The Unready Queen

April 15, 2020
The twins already saved the Wild Wood from a breakdown in magic in Changeling (2019); can they also save the humans and magical creatures from one another? Tinn and Cole, inseparable white twins, are adjusting to this new world in which Tinn's learned he's a goblin changeling. Though Cole's not happy about Tinn's goblin lessons and the new divide between the brothers, he's supportive--all he wants is Tinn's happiness. The boys still have a great time playing in the woods with their friend Fable, the daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark. The "unready queen" of the title, Fable's a magically gifted adolescent who'd rather shape-shift into a bear than train her magic, and she is a delightful friend to the boys as they confront the drama of everyday life: shortage of money, interest in girls, accidentally turning partway into a goblin in school. Meanwhile, though the townsfolk have lived alongside the Wild Wood for generations, a few people incite bigoted violence, and an outside industrialist drilling for oil and felling magical trees whips up the locals to battle with the magical creatures for his own profit. Ritter deftly executes the all-too-timely theme of racist demagoguery--and profiting from it--in a way that is realistic yet hopeful. He also leavens it with humor: Fable, particularly, is a reliable source of silliness and fart jokes. Captivating adventure, magical friendship, and just the right amount of goofiness. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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Starred review from May 15, 2020
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* After discovering that one of them is actually a goblin and that there is deep magic in the Wild Wood near their home, brothers Cole and Tinn have found a balance between their human home and the magical creatures in the forest. Fable, daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, continues her magic lessons in preparation for the day when she will one day be queen, while Tinn visits the goblins to receive training on his own magical abilities. As the friends spend more time together, it seems as if the human and magic worlds are not so different. But when the wood is threatened and its magical residents prepare for a war against the humans, the friends must come together to save what they love. The intricate world established in Changeling (2019) is expanded upon as Cole and Tinn learn more about the magic of the Wild Wood and about what happened to their father. Insecurities and uncertainties felt by the brothers and by strong-willed Fable are explored, with all three gaining strength and courage as the story progresses. The Oddmire series' memorable, inspiring characters are full of heart and, combined with the enchanting magic surrounding them, form the strong core of a burgeoning fantasy classic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from June 1, 2020

Gr 6 Up-Tinn and Cole have returned from their journey to Oddmire. Unfortunately, returning to "normal" has proven more difficult than they thought. Fable looks at these two boys as her only true friends and, as the daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, she must convince her mother to allow her to visit them. The Queen relents, on the condition that Fable make every effort to conceal her magic and, in the words of the Queen, "keep quiet." Fable finds this a difficult task, however, as she and the boys learn that the people of Endsborough have begun destroying the Wild Wood and the magical creatures who live there, and are doing so for a very sinister reason. Fable struggles to keep quiet in light of this discovery and, as a fragile and unspoken truce begins to crumble, she and her mother begin inching toward the fulfillment of a deadly prophecy. In another brilliantly written visit to Oddmire, Ritter returns to an already magical place filled with danger and intrigue, and adds a new chapter to an outstanding series. VERDICT Those who loved book one will adore book two. A wonderful addition to the series and to young fantasy collections.-Wayne R. Cherry Jr., St. Pius X H.S., Houston

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