Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

The care of magical creatures has never been so important.You know that story about a boy hero who goes off to a school for magic? The one with the slightly aloof headmaster, the magical beasts, and the prophecy that says he'll go up against a disembodied evil that might destroy him? This isn't that story. Sure, all those elements are here: There's a wunderkind, Cai Morrigan, and the Inglenook School of Magic, and there's definitely a prophecy. But this story is about his self-proclaimed sidekick, Autumn Malog, a white-haired 12-year-old beastkeeper at the school who is desperately seeking clues into the mysterious disappearance of her twin brother, Winter. Autumn and Cai make a pact to help each other-she believes Winter is trapped inside the school, and Cai knows the castle better than anyone, and he is secretly afraid of dragons while Autumn has a gift with the beasts (she counts a boggart as her friend). That's when the true magic begins. Fans of other boy wizards will be mesmerized by this original addition to the genre, and humor-loving readers will revel in the Diana Wynne Jones–style snark that's interjected throughout. Themes of class, education, and equality are interwoven seamlessly, providing additional food for thought. Once readers are buried in the pages, they'll beg to know when the sequels are coming out. Autumn Reads as White; Cai has light-brown skin.A magical addition to any bookshelf. (Fantasy. 9-12)

ALA Booklist

Raised by their formidable grandmother, 12-year-old Autumn and her older brothers live on the grounds of Inglenook, a residential school for young magicians, where generations of her family have served as keepers of its magical beasts, from dragons to griffins to monsters. Autumn is determined to find her twin brother, Winter, who disappeared almost a year ago. In hopes of finding him, she befriends and makes a pact with Cai, the most famous young magician of his generation, who is burdened by an enigmatic prophecy. But after she discovers where Winter is trapped, his rescue becomes a perilous undertaking, and its repercussions are more far-reaching than Autumn could have known, shaking the school to its foundations and changing their lives in unforeseen ways. The novel revolves around its strong-willed, prickly heroine and its reluctant but no less courageous hero. The narrative features an array of inventive magical elements, suspenseful scenes, and distinctive characters whose dialogue entertains readers while moving the story forward. A vividly realized adventure set in an imaginative fantasy world.

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Autumn's twin brother Winter has been missing, presumed dead, for several months, but Autumn can feel he's alive. The Hollow Dragon in the Gentlewood may have eaten him, but if so, why was one of his boots found in Inglenook, the magicians' school where Autumn and her family work as beastkeepers? Then one day Autumn sees Winter trapped in a pane of glass; she vows not to rest until she's rescued him. Her ally in this endeavor is Cai Morrigan, Inglenook's star pupil, who has approached Autumn for help with his own problem. He's been prophesied to slay the Hollow Dragon before the first snow of his thirteenth year, but he's twelve now and still faints whenever he gets near a dragon. As a lowly servant, Autumn initially feels unworthy of the famous (though endearingly modest and helpful) Cai, but their friendship blossoms as they each discover previously unknown facets of their own identities, search for Winter together, and practice exposing Cai to dragons. With delicious personal interactions, an adventure that gets deeper as the tale progresses, and a setting that Hogwarts fans might like to climb into, this familiar-yet-original fantasy hits all its marks. Anita L. Burkam

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The care of magical creatures has never been so important.You know that story about a boy hero who goes off to a school for magic? The one with the slightly aloof headmaster, the magical beasts, and the prophecy that says he'll go up against a disembodied evil that might destroy him? This isn't that story. Sure, all those elements are here: There's a wunderkind, Cai Morrigan, and the Inglenook School of Magic, and there's definitely a prophecy. But this story is about his self-proclaimed sidekick, Autumn Malog, a white-haired 12-year-old beastkeeper at the school who is desperately seeking clues into the mysterious disappearance of her twin brother, Winter. Autumn and Cai make a pact to help each other-she believes Winter is trapped inside the school, and Cai knows the castle better than anyone, and he is secretly afraid of dragons while Autumn has a gift with the beasts (she counts a boggart as her friend). That's when the true magic begins. Fans of other boy wizards will be mesmerized by this original addition to the genre, and humor-loving readers will revel in the Diana Wynne Jones–style snark that's interjected throughout. Themes of class, education, and equality are interwoven seamlessly, providing additional food for thought. Once readers are buried in the pages, they'll beg to know when the sequels are coming out. Autumn Reads as White; Cai has light-brown skin.A magical addition to any bookshelf. (Fantasy. 9-12)