3.5 stars
by Michelle Lam
Meesh has little interest in being a demon. She spends more time watching her favorite show following the fairy princess, Nouna, and talking to flowers than breathing fire and puking acid. But when a new threat puts Mount Magma in danger, Meesh sets out to find help, learning to embrace her own strengths and making new friends along the way. This is a complete, self-contained adventure with a hint at more to come.
What really made this book shine was the artwork. Stunning use of color. I absolutely loved the character designs. It was especially fun to see aspects of the magical world such as visiting demon classes and exploring the different realms.
I really enjoyed the world Lam created. There seems to be so much built behind the story we see, but the reader only gets a glimpse. Because of that, the worldbuilding felt a bit shallow. I’d love to see more of the history of the fairies’ and demons’ conflict and the other beings in the world. Hoping the world is more developed in later books.
The book explore themes of bullying, injustice, working together, discrimination and stereotypes, forgiveness, and self-acceptance. While I loved the themes, much of the story shifted fairly quickly and the pacing felt off. I think the book tries to do so much and comes off feeling rushed in the process. Many times the characters seem to just happen upon the solution without much thought or planning. Still, I enjoyed the story overall and the artwork was fantastic.
A nice start to the series overall. Definitely interested in reading the next book to find out what happens next with Meesh and her new friends.