This was a really cute story with some hard-hitting points as well. Yes, there were a couple moments where it felt a bit cheesy, but I loved Riley's story overall and the message of dealing with the past in order to look ahead to the future.

If you like middle grade books and puzzles, I would highly recommend you check this one out! So much fun!

This book may not be for everyone as it deals with the underworld, demons, ghosts, and some supernatural monsters, but I found it to be insightful regarding the Chinese Buddhist beliefs regarding the afterlife as well as an interesting twist on the original Disney Mulan story.

Through this book, I learned so much about not only the lives of Tolkien and Lewis and their friendship that developed after WWI, but also a lot about the war itself. From the political and religious reasonings to the dark realities of the battlefield, there is a lot to take in and learn about in this book. The fact that these two great writers of the 20th century came out with the viewpoints they had and to write the types of books they did in light of what they and the world had endured is both surprising and hopeful to those who hold to Christian beliefs even today. Highly recommend!