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Description
On the brink of her quinceanera, and her official coronation, Princess Solimar is given a magical gift that sets her life on a new path. Text contains gender bias.
Quick Summary
When Princess Solimar is on the verge of her quincea era and taking the throne, she receives a magical gift that completely changes her plans and sends her on an unexpected adventure full of danger and discovery. This is one of those stories where a character everyone expects to just sit on a throne ends up having to prove herself in a whole different way, and the way it tackles what girls and women are expected to do versus what they're actually capable of gives the story real substance beneath the exciting plot. Kids who enjoy fantasy adventures with strong, independent female leads like those in the Dragon Masters series will likely fly through this one, though the slightly higher reading level and longer word count make it better suited for confident middle-grade readers rather than kids just starting chapter books. There are some genuinely tense moments with monsters and close calls, but the tone stays warm and often humorous, making it feel more exhilarating than frightening for most kids. Parents will appreciate that it celebrates responsibility and figuring out who you really are, rather than just waiting around for destiny to happen to you. It's a great choice for readers who loved "The Serpent's Secret" or "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" and are looking for another fantasy with a powerful female protagonist at its center.