I was provided an electronic copy of this book by the author Rita Rubin in exchange for an honest review.

Derek Draco, powerful half-elf orphan, embarks on a quest alongside his friends Jared and Arabelle, to find the amulet of wishes in the hopes of bringing his parents back. During the journey, the group deals with secrets, the trauma of taking lives, and is hunted by Durbash and his loyal bandits.

I adored this fantasy. I enjoyed the descriptions of how guardians can shift into dragons and world-building. It means a lot that there are so many visible Queer characters. The younger characters and older both are developed well, and the chapters from Aurelia’s point of view were a real treat. The character motivations make so much sense here and the stakes are high! Reveals were handled masterfully. The writing is approachable and immersive. During fight scenes, the reader could keep track of what was happening. The theme of parenthood was so emotional and satisfying to read.

I read primarily fantasy, and this one has distinct characters that you can’t help but empathize with. I can’t wait to read more from this world!