Stormrise

July 15, 2019
War has come to the country of Ylanda. The northern nomads have breached the border, and each family must send one male to fight. Seeking to protect her twin brother, Storm, disabled by a childhood illness, Rain adopts his identity--even though discovery would mean death for her and dishonor for her family. Having trained in the art of Neshu fighting with her father, Rain is confident about battle, but the practical matter of hiding her female body remains. She consults Madam S'dora for something to make her periods stop, even dragon magic. Like most, Rain believes dragons are the stuff of legend, but when she-king dragon Nuaga begins to visit her dreams, Rain recognizes not only that dragons are real, but that they offer hope for winning the war. While the premise is nothing new, solo debut author Boehme makes the story exciting: The world is well thought out, and the dragons are distinctive, with clear rules for magic that will draw readers in. The northern nomads and their leader, Tan Vey, are more a faceless evil than fully developed in their own rights, but the main characters are strong and well rounded, and readers will feel invested in their survival. Characters are described as having olive or golden skin and dark hair. Mulan with dragons for added fun: Be prepared to break out into "I'll Make a Man out of You." (Fantasy. 13-16)

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August 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Boehme's debut novel creates a new take on the tale of Mulan. When war comes and calls for all families to send an able bodied male, Rain is tasked with a difficult decision: face the uncertainty of her brother and father surviving, or take their place. The choice seems simple to Rain and she soon embarks on an adventure of magic, dragons, and death, knowing that she'll be killed if discovered to be a girl in disguise. There is a motley variation of secondary characters: from Storm, Rain's twin who suffers from the effects of a fever as a baby, to Dalen, a boy whose beliefs in magic and dragons are seen as nothing more than a laughable myth. The book has a lyrical writing style and while the characters themselves are not physically described in detail, the story draws readers in. Boehme casts a fresh take on classic tropes in this epic fantasy through her captivating world-building and fantastical creatures, which are not ordinary dragons. The novel has light romance and is heavy on the action. Since this book features the beginnings of a war, there are some violent scenes that depict gruesome deaths. VERDICT This lush, epic fantasy filled with magic and dragons will circulate well among fans of Tamora Pierce and J.R.R. Tolkien. -Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

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