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344 pp.
| Holt/Godwin |
March, 2019 |
TradeISBN 978-1-250-30746-0$19.99
(3)
YA
Translated by Cathy Hirano.
In this Japanese-inflected fantasy, Elin's mother is killed by Toda, giant water serpents; Elin grows up to work with Royal Beasts, the gryphon-like enemies of the Toda. When the divine ruler wants to use Royal Beasts as weapons like the Toda, however, Elin rebels. An uneven start matures into a compelling, thought-provoking meditation on moral decisions and exploitation of the natural world.