ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Recently returned to the kingdom's capital, Princess Ash is ostracized by the court as well as her princeling brother, Lucen, as they think her disability and use of a cane means she's weak. Ash finds easy acceptance from Splinter, a wannabe squire prevented from joining the ranks because everyone sees her as a girl, though she identifies as neither girl nor boy. After Ash creates an exception for her new companion, Splinter fights, often literally, with Lucen to overcome the pervasive bigotry in the squire program. When the princess is kidnapped, Splinter and Lucen must set aside their feud to unravel a plot of political intrigue, even as Ash fights to save herself. Nijkamp's middle-grade debut, the first of a trilogy, expands on their entry in the 2021 anthology This Is Our Rainbow, and the world building feels thin as a result. Still, the scarcity of queer or disabled heroes in medieval middle-grade fiction makes this a necessary purchase for the representation alone, and a worthwhile adventure grounded in a beautifully affirming friendship seals the deal.

Kirkus Reviews

Can a disabled princess and her gender-nonconforming squire make a difference to their country's war effortsTwelve-year-old Princess Adelisa, who goes by "Ash," uses a cane and braces due to her easily dislocated joints. After six years away at school, she's returned to Calinor, where discontented nobles-and her older brother, Crown Prince Lucen-dismiss her as "crippled" and "damaged." Twelve-year-old Splinter, who usesshe/her pronouns and is neither a girl nor a boy, longs to be a squire, despite custom restricting this role to boys. When her bravery and sense of justice impress Ash, Ash sponsors Splinter as her squire and companion, but bullying from other squires, especially Lucen, makes Splinter's quest challenging. On the day Lucen's actions get Splinter ejected from the squires, Ash is kidnapped. Splinter-and a guilty Lucen-go in pursuit. Nijkamp illustrates the price of betrayal in many forms. Nobles, unhappy with the queen's more equitable policies, aggravate the war with the Ferisian Empire by betraying Calinor for promises of power. Ash and Splinter, while spying for Calinor to unmask traitorous nobles, agonize over necessarily betraying friends and helpers in the process, and Lucen betrays his sister's trust. The characters all have depth and flaws and believably grow into stronger versions of their true selves who value their own self-worth. The limited worldbuilding may be addressed in sequels. Major characters are cued white.A thoughtful fantasy exploring loyalty, self-worth, and the ethics of war beyond the battlefield. (map)(Fantasy. 10-13)

School Library Journal (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 4–7— Eleven-year-old Princess Adelisa (Ash) has returned to Kestrel City after six years living with relatives, only to find she is an outsider. Not only does she suffer from an illness similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but her 13-year-old brother Lucen treats her contemptuously, as do many nobles. A chance meeting at an evening party brings Ash and Splinter together. Splinter describes herself as neither a boy nor a girl and uses she/her pronouns. Splinter becomes a squire while Ash gains a companion and guard. When conflict with a neighboring kingdom flares, Ash is kidnapped, and Splinter and Lucen are forced into an acrimonious partnership to rescue her. Ash and her brother are simply described as brunettes, while minor characters are described with darker skin tones. Nijkamp's story builds from an inauspicious beginning into an enjoyable fantasy adventure with plucky characters. While the introductory scenery descriptions are uninspiring, the story picks up after Splinter and Ash meet, and the alternating scenes of Ash's captivity and Splinter and Lucen's pursuit are well-paced. Ash's disability and Splinter's gender identity are smoothly integrated into the story. Nijkamp has surprises for readers along the way, making the second half of the book the most exciting portion. VERDICT Encourage readers to push through early chapters for a character-driven fantasy series opener with tons of adventure. Recommended for most collections, especially those serving fans of Jennifer Nielsen or Kate O'Hearn.— Caitlin Augusta