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Five Faves: Fantasy for Those that Love Animals

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In case you didn’t know, I do love fantasy novels. And it turns out that there were five fantasy books that I read this year that had strong ties to animals. In case you love fantasy (and some fantastical animals), I thought I would share these books with you. 

By Seth Patrick 
Peachtree Publishing, 2022. Fiction. 390 pages. 

This is a mixture of fantasy and adventure, with a fantastical creature thrown in. In this book, Patch Brightwater has to help Wren, a girl who has been turned into a rat. Only, Patch gets in loads of trouble (for things he did and didn’t do) and he and Wren barely escape jail when they run into a dracogriff (a hybrid dragon and gryphon). With magic, the legend of the Pied Piper, and fantastical animals around every turn, this is sure to appeal to fantasy and animal lovers. 

By Jenn Reese 
Henry Holt and Company, 2022. Fiction. 244 pages. 

Eren Evers likes to ride her bike. She doesn’t like how her two best friends are trying to get her to tell them who she likes—she isn’t sure that she even likes anyone. However, when she ends up saving a bird and becomes the bird’s champion, she realizes that there are more than just the birds who are in trouble and need saving. This is great story that looks at what is more important—fitting in or being your true self. And there are a lot of talking birds and some evil magical monsters that need to be defeated. So, just your typical fantasy with animals and monsters and a whole lot of self-discovery to boot. 

By Emi Watanabe Cohen 
Levine Querido, 2022. 200 pages. 

Kohei lives with his mother and grandfather—a grandfather who never smiles. Kohei is sure that if he can just find a ryu—a legendary dragon that hasn’t been seen since before the bombs were dropped on Japan—then he can make his grandfather smile once again. With a new friend and two family ryu, Kohei goes on a journey to discover who he is and how he can make a difference in the lives of his family and friends. A great historical fantasy with dragons! 

By Sarah Beth Durst 
Clarion Books, 2022. Fiction. 247 pages. 

Holly is a grey squirrel. Her best friend is Gus (short for Asparagus) and is an owl. The two had to climb a mountain and drink from a special pool to gain magical abilities—and they did. (Holly’s power is that she can make pastries appear in her paws.) Only the powers they now have aren’t anything that any wizard wants for their animal familiars. So, Holly and Gus and a whole host of other animals live at a shelter and are called shelterlings. When a previous shelterling comes along and tells everyone that things can change, Holly and her friends must decide if they are happy as they are and if not what they are willing to do about it. This is a total animal fantasy complete with adventure, magic, and a dash of betrayal. 

By Pam Muñoz Ryan 
Disney-Hyperion, 2022. Fiction. 190 pages. 

Princess Solimar vows to help protect the monarch butterflies just before her Quinceañera. The butterflies then give her a magical ability to know the answers to questions (such as what someone will dream about that night) while she has some of the weaker monarch butterflies protected in her shawl. Only, there is a powerful enemy that wants to not only destroy the monarch butterflies but also her kingdom. And Solimar must figure out how to save her family and country without sacrificing the butterflies. Although the animals in this tale (the butterflies) aren’t as influential in the action, this does show that animals can be a major part of a fantasy story even if they (and the magic they give) aren’t the main person completing the quest. A wonderful tale full of heart and hope—both for Solimar and the butterflies.
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