Lightning Round-Book Reviews (Middle Grade & YA) || 2

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Last Updated: October 29, 2025

** May contain spoilers **

Into the glades -by Laura Sebastian

My rating: 5/10

Into the glades is a middle grade story about a group of friends going on a magical adventure while navigating their grief. The story moves very quickly, avoiding any long drawn out parts for middle grade readers. Although, for some readers the story may lack depth and character development. The author does seem to go out of her way to keep the story light, and play on topics kids may find amusing such as magical boogers. Throughout the story the perspective flips between characters, sometimes without clarity, leading to some confusion in the storyline. Some information parents and educators may need to know, the story deals with magic, which includes dark magic as well. Although the topic isn’t explored too much, it plays a role in the entire storyline. The story deals with grief, and does have a nice simple message at the end. Overall, I think the story is a generic read, where the entire plot was written in the description for the book. But, for the intended middle-grade audience, it is a nice quick paced read.

Shadow of the Fox Trilogy-Julie Kagawa

My rating: 9/10

This trilogy is an amazing series filled with magic, action, and Japanese folklore. Throughout the series you follow the journey and mission of half-kitsune girl Yumeko. The author does a phenomenal job of sweeping you into the journey. Julie Kagawa wrote the story in two perspectives, helping shape the adventure and characters. Across the three books there are dark topics, such as, gore, violence, death, demons and other entities. And although that is something I don’t usually go for, the author kept this spaced out, and the story intriguing enough to keep reading. There are parts that seem drawn out, repetitive, and predictable that can make the first two books feel long or confusing at parts. But Julie Kagawa ties the last book all together, an ending that really felt intentional to the series as a whole, and fitting.

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