The Wind Child

Requested this book as it just screams out to me. I adore polar fantasies, Slavic mythology, Sophie Anderson's writing and this one just screamed all of those things to me. And it didn't disappoint. This book was just a joy from the first page and one that I think that those who love the thing I just mentioned would enjoy. It is packed with adventure and exceptionally head-strong characters with Mara and Torniv being determined to succeed in their quests which include lots of different figures from Slavic mythology. A wonderful book.

Thank you for the arc. Can't wait to have the finished copy in my hands.

This was such a good read and a perfect book for middle graders to immerse themselves in reading, mythology and folklore. It has such a good storyline, great writing and well developed characters and I loved the mythology elements as I knew absolutely nothing about slavic mythology/folklore before reading this book. I loved it

This is such an entirely wonderful book. Not only is it an immersive story full of great characters, but I learned a lot about Slavic mythology along the way – and I love learning new things. This is a rather short middle grade fantasy adventure, which makes it perfect for young readers, and especially reluctant readers as well. It is addictive – I got stuck into it so much that I could not stop reading until I was done, which for me, is one of the crucial elements of a great children’s book. I found this to be an uncontested five star read – the only thing I could imagine being improved about it is to add some interior illustrations, which is more of a publishing thing rather than a criticism of the book itself, added value, not something that detracts from it now.

One of the things I loved most about The Wind Child is the emotional impact the story had on me. Mara sets out on this grand adventure to try and achieve the impossible, to try and get her recently deceased father back from the afterlife. The ending of the story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and is the best possible way the book could have resolved. It had me crying in the best possible way (though that may have been connected to reading a dead parent book around the ten year anniversary of my mum’s passing as well, making me more emotionally susceptible to the topic).

Mara and her friend Torniv are fantastic characters. They are not all-powerful, but they are stubborn and they don’t accept no for an answer, and they are determined to succeed. It was a joy to follow them on part of their story, and I wish that we got to spend more time with them. I loved The Wind Child just as much as Gabriela’s adult debut, The Second Bell, and if you have a child in your life, I highly recommend you get them a copy, and either read it with them, or let them read it while you read Gabriela’s other book. She truly is a writer to look out for, and one that I think will go far.

This is a book full of Slavic gods and monsters and a really enjoyable read - perfect for Middle Grade.
At its heart there is a story of the value of friendship and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

Mara is the grand-daughter of Striborg, the god of the Winter Wind. Her mother is Striborg's daughter but her father is human and Mara has inherited his qualities rather than her mother's. She possesses no magic. At the start of the story they return to her father's home as he is dying.

When her father dies, Mara has 40 days to get her father back as it takes that length of time for the dead to reach Navia where the soul will divide and enter the heart of a new-born. What I particularly loved was that at the beginning of each chapter we are told what the soul is feeling on its 40 day journey to Navia.

It is unheard of for a soul to be taken back from Navia and it is something that no human would ever be able to achieve but Mara puts her faith into the fact that she must have some of Stribog's blood somewhere, that she is not entirely human. On her journey she is joined by Torniv, a boy who feels an outsider. Together they battle against gods and monsters.

This is a story of love, endurance, adventure. A perfect read.