Over the Dragon's Wall

This was a whimsical tale that I enjoyed a lot! I think many of my students will be able to relate to the protagonist and will find the world building solid. I will say that I felt a lot of the sentences were stilted and unnatural, but I appreciated the plot line/organization of ideas immensely.

Let me start off by saying, at first, I saw the publishing date, and thought, “Ooh this is being released on my birthday!” And decided, hey why not try and request to read it, the description made it look like a pleasant read.

And then I was whisked away into a Narnia-like book. Of course, the start was slow, and I wasn’t sure when the magic would play a part in this, actually, I began to think it wouldn’t. But as I immersed myself in Sage’s character, oh boy. Was I in for a pleasant surprise. Listen, if Narnia and Alice in wonderland, were combined, this would be it. I was in for an emotional rollercoaster, and that kept me reading. The representation of how the effects of children growing up faster than they should be, left my NetGalley shelf notes looking like a madman’s writing. Safe to say, when the true plot began, I was having a blast.


Now, the only reason I gave this a 4 star, is because I believe that there was more that could’ve been done, and I personally felt that the beginning felt a little bit childish and messy, but the payoff was worth it.

P.S. there were only two minor spelling mistakes that I spotted throughout the entire 70 chapters

Sage is barely a teenager, and her life has taken a terrible downward turn. Her mother, an accomplished violinist, recently passed away. Her father, angry and unable to provide for his children, abandons them. Now Sage has been separated from her siblings Wren and Violet by the foster system. But in her darkest hour, she receives a key that could answer all her questions: one that unlocks the door in the wall separating the world from Nytari, the dragon who rules over fate.

Now in a world of ghosts and talking animals, Sage finds herself in the company of Igor. But this musician-turned-priest doesn't know how to help the dead move on, or how to wake Nytari. In her time at Nytari's mansion, she struggles with what she wants. More than anything, she wants to find her mother and heal her family. But she also feels the pull of music: learning to play the violin in her mother's absence. Overshadowing both, though, is a fear of taking up space: a belief that she is unlovable and selfish. As she navigates riddles and paranormal dangers, she discovers new truths about fate, suffering, and herself.

Over the Dragon's Wall is a weighty, but beautiful, book for young readers. It's a pitch-perfect examination of grief amidst emotional abuse: the desire to ask for what you need, dampened by the belief that having needs makes one unlovable. This is one of those rare books that will find the people it's meant for; some may not fully comprehend Sage's struggle, but those who have struggled similarly will feel seen and benefit from its gentle message. The fact that this appears to be the first in a series is exciting; I can't wait to see what other experiences will be dissected in this close-to-home fantasy world.