Medieval Fantasy with Animal Main Characters: Mistmantle Chronicles Review
- K.L. Miracle
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Urchin of the Riding Star by M. I. McAllister
Quick Summary
Genre: Medieval Fantasy, Animal Characters
Recommended Age: 10+
Possibly Concerning Content* (details below)
🤬 Language: Clean: None
❤️ Romance: Clean: Marriage but no kissing
🛡️Violence: Characters die, injuries described. not gory.
‼️ Heads up: Themes of grief. Alcohol used. Culling of weak. Evil room. Religion note.
Review
The Mistmantle Chronicles were recommended to us by Alissa J. Zavalianos, a fantastic author who writes middle grade fiction safe for Christian kids. So we knew we'd be safe with this one. We chose to listen to the audiobook and boy was that the right decision! The narration by Paul Mclaughlin was amazing! We were captivated from the first chapter and could hardly put it down (we spent time sitting in the car to finish chapters). Paul did such a great job with all the characters and his narration was clear and understandable while still being very engaging. The action and adventure of Urchin of the Rising Star was fantastic. We felt like we knew these characters and came to cheer on Urchin and he and those around him battled the evil that wanted to take over their kingdom. It's a good vs evil tale that will keep you listening for hours past your bedtime.
If you love
Middle grade fantasy
Medieval settings
Court intrigue
Talking animal main characters
Action and adventure
Good vs evil
Official Blurb (dropdown)
"On a night of riding stars, a tiny squirrel is found abandoned and close to death on a distant beach. Adopted and raised by a welcoming colony of animals, Urchin has no idea of his powerful destiny or of his mysterious origins.
The rule of the good King Brushen and Queen Spindle is threatened by an evil plot from within the court. When a murder is committed, the isle is thrown into turmoil. Behind the scenes, ruthless animals are determined to seize the throne. But to underestimate the power of the islanders and the ancient prophecies is a big mistake...
Triumphant heroes and brilliantly wicked villains do battle in this first book of the treasured, heart-stopping Mistmantle adventure series. Glorious new illustrations by Christine Enright capture the spirit of Urchin and his world." - From Amazon
Possibly Concerning Content*
Click on the dropdown arrows for details for each section. May contain spoilers.
🤬 Language: Clean: None
❤️ Romance: Clean: Marriage but no kissing
Details/Spoilers
Adults get married
No kissing or other forms of intamcy described.
🛡️Violence: Characters die, injuries described. not gory.
Details/Spoilers
There are multiple deaths but they are not gory. Occasionally, it is mentioned that 'they went quickly' and the injury is described but with minimal detail example: "a red spot on his chest.'
There are multiple injuries that are described
One of the characters killed is a 'young hedgehog' who is killed off page and then found by the main characters. This might bother younger readers.
‼️ Heads up: Themes of grief. Alcohol used. Culling of weak. Evil room. Religion note.
Details/Spoilers
Past Culling: Children have been culled for being too weak or having deformities. It is mentioned that it happens ‘quickly and while they sleep so there’s no pain.’ This does not actually happen in the book as the heroes save the children and by the end of the book this is outlawed.
Themes of Grief: characters deal with the death of a spouse and the death of a child.
Alcohol: The villains use alcohol to muddle another character’s mind. Some of the characters drink wine and mead.
Evil Room: There is an evil room that the Priest (off page) cleanses with prayer and light. The evil room feeds the evil within the villain through whispers and visions.
Religion: The characters pray and worship a single deity they call ‘The Heart.’
Grab a Copy
Grab a copy on Amazon*
Grab a copy on Bookshop*
📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
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