I don't usually pick up YA/Middle grade fiction but I am so glad I took a chance on this one. I think that I heard about this on a Book Riot podcast and decided to order it very impulsively off amazon.

I loved the world that the author built. It was so vivid and colorful and alive! It truly did read like a Miyazaki movie. It had the same vibe, and many of the same themes that Miyazaki uses in his films. I loved the protagonists connection to nature and the beasts that she cared for. Her origin story was such a thrill to submerge myself in, I truly enjoyed getting to know her and watch her grow.

I know that I would have been absolutely obsessed with this book if I had read it as a young reader. I hope to hold onto it and recommend it to any young reader I come across, because stories like these are the ones that compelled me to read at a young age, and they continue to remind me of why I still pick up books.

Can't wait to read the second volume!

Lovely, emotional read. 3.5 stars

AMAZING book. Hands down the most descriptive and immersive world I've read in... well perhaps ever! Amazing creatures, people, and storyline. The plot is unwaveringly original and just... outstanding work. I hope yo read the second one soon!!

Once again I am in the minority. This book appears to be fairly popular and well liked.

It wasn't that I thought this book was objectively bad. I've read some of those, and this wasn't it. However it wasn't for me. Or perhaps I was just in the wrong mood for it? Honestly I spent the majority of my time bored and struggling to pick this back up.

The beginning started a bit tropey (girl is Special (TM) and shunned by her village) but then it got right down to the action... and proceeded to be "no plot, only vibes" for a sizeable chunk of the story. I legit had no idea what the plot was even going to be through most of the book, and while I don't mind a slow mover, I need SOMETHING to drive me through this story. Instead I got an extended beekeeping sequence.

The MC needed to struggle more. She had straggles near the end, but through the majority of the book whenever she encountered an obstacle, social or otherwise, it was swiftly over. During the extended beekeeping sequence

Spoiler

I thought at least she was building a strong relationship with her mentor, so when he inevitably died it would really hurt both her and us. But she moved on from him with barely a backward glance and he died off screen, barely acknowledged.

There was interesting magical animal husbandry involved in this book. but TBH as someone who works with large animals myself I felt like everything was fairly obvious and I always figured out what the MC needed to do long before she did it, so I just sat there, annoyed, until she finally figured things out.

If you like SLOW books with characters who aren't the deepest, a cool magical creature, and action at the beginning and end, this books is for you. If not... maybe you'll feel like I did.

This echos the best kind of Fantasy, but is completely original. While it should appeal to readers of all ages, it is prefect for those voracious elementary school Fantasy readers, that hungrily stalk around the librarians desk keeping an eye out for fresh meat.

Honestly wow. The last 50 pages were everything! The way this slowly progressed and tied together--love it, absolutely love it. I read so many books hoping to feel half as much as I felt with this one.

This book was fantastic.
After having left it sitting on my shelf for over a year, I finally decided to pick it up after a lull in my tbr. Although it took a little while for me to get into it, and I was reading it slowly because of how busy I am with school, I flew through it once I got on Spring break.
Generally, I enjoy plot driven books. I like the fast paced stories that keep me on my toes. And yet, I'm realizing that although I don't like character driven books as much overall, my favorite books are always character driven. The Beast Player was the same - the two main characters are Elin and Leelan, Leelan being a mythical creature called a 'royal beast'. The book explores the relationship between humans and animals, which was really complex and fascinating. Overall, it was written beautifully, the characters were amazing, and the entire story was really well done.

100% a new all time favourite. will review properly later!