A satisfying and lovely story about a girl, and fantastic, massive beasts known as Royal Beasts.
Elin, no stranger to tragedy and violence, is a gentle, intelligent and curious person. She is raised by a beekeeper with love and kindness, and after he helps her gain a position at the Royal Beast Sanctuary, she comes to believe passionately that the Royal Beasts can be raised and cared for using methods in opposition to years of accepted lore.
Elin must confront racism (she’s half-Ahlyo, a nomadic people who are viewed with mistrust and a little fear land), and she’s attempting to go against many years of accepted wisdom in the care and management of the giant and dangerous beasts. Along the way, Elin has to figure out what’s important, who she is and what she cares about, and it’s both a painful and lovely journey as we watch the young girl and eventually woman, who consistently uses gentleness and respect in her dealings with everyone, who goes on to confront soldiers, bigotry and the powerful and dangerous jaws of her loved beasts.

This book was amazing even if it did take awhile to get through it the translation of the original writing is so well done I really think she conveyed it so well. I really loved the characters especially Elin she is so unique I don't think I have come across many characters like her she does what she believes in and is very interesting to read about she is a bit hard to describe. The beasts as well as the other characters that surround them are interesting every character is well fleshed out there are no one dimensional characters to be seen. The plot was very good it started out with a girl who admired what her mother did only for things to happen and for Elin to end up somewhere else where the plot really takes off the story just gets better from there it was like reading a studio ghibli film this would make an amazing animated film. I loved this book so much I will reading the next one soon.

Edit: Seriously, I love this book. Read it!

Seriously, sooo good!

Wonderful book, wonderful translation. Love, love, love and I cannot wait to read the next book.

This is an absolutely lovely book that caught me by surprise. It's very Ghibli-esque in its story, and for the most part I enjoyed the gentle, meandering way in which it was told. The lore and relationships between humans and the fantastical beasts they care for was well done and complex - I constantly found myself wanting to know more. I did have a few issues with the story structure and pacing, but it certainly wasn't deal breaking.

A thoughtful and reserved fantasy set in a complex world shaped by subtle politics and social standing. Orphaned Elin's life has always revolved, in various ways, around the handling of dangerous creatures kept and controlled by society's rulers. Tradition dictates the beasts be dominated by humans, but she is developing her own, more harmonious methods. There are ancient secrets behind both approaches, though, dangerous ones guarded closely, and none of it is as simple as she would like. No matter her preferences and choices, she will find herself bound up in plots and machinations that could determine the fate of her country and everyone she loves. Characterized by a deep appreciation for nature and a philosophical consideration of human nature--even the dangerous, violent, and cruel aspects of both.

A meditative moment of despair--not a conclusion (the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, with a sequel to follow):

Esalu had probably been right--the one emotion all living creatures shared was not love, but fear. This, most likely, was the hard truth. Men, beasts, all sentient beings that inhabited the planet, were incapable of trust. Somewhere in their hearts, they would always harbor the fear of others. To ensure their own survival, they would continue to devise ways to dominate and control.

Only by binding each other with force, with laws, with religious precepts . . . and with the Silent Whistle, do we finally feel safe . . .

No matter how hard I study the nature of living things, in the end, that's all I will find--just this empty futility.

Even if she returned to Kazalumu safely, how could she ever stand in front of a class to teach? What could she possibly say to her students if the nature of living creatures only made her feel hopeless?

Humans, beasts, bugs--all are but tiny pricks of gleaming in the night--a herd of countless points of light, bound in the darkness of distrust.

She gazed up at the star-spangled sky as she listened to Leelan purr contentedly behind her.

This book was amazing even if it did take awhile to get through it the translation of the original writing is so well done I really think she conveyed it so well. I really loved the characters especially Elin she is so unique I don't think I have come across many characters like her she does what she believes in and is very interesting to read about she is a bit hard to describe. The beasts as well as the other characters that surround them are interesting every character is well fleshed out there are no one dimensional characters to be seen. The plot was very good it started out with a girl who admired what her mother did only for things to happen and for Elin to end up somewhere else where the plot really takes off the story just gets better from there it was like reading a studio ghibli film this would make an amazing animated film. I loved this book so much I will reading the next one soon.

So let me start off by saying that I loved this book more than I thought I would. My husband picked this right off the shelf as I wondered aimlessly through Barnes & Noble like a complete zombie. I had just finished my first dose of immunotherapy, and I felt like absolute garbage. Looking at the cover, I was immediately taken by the gorgeous artwork. It looked like it was pulled directly from a Studio Ghibli film. I was really hoping that this would pull me out of my reading slump.

The book starts off with a young girl Elin, who lives with her mother who is a steward for the Toda, massive serpent-like beasts who are utilized for war. One morning, they wake up to find that the Toda have been found dead, and Elin’s mother is found accountable for their deaths. Her punishment: execution. Tragically, Elin’s attempts to save her mother’s life is futile, and she is carried away by the very monsters that devour her mother.
Elin washes up on the shore in another territory, and found by a gentle beekeeper who is determined to save her life. When she finally begins to regain her consciousness, he’s taken aback by her sorrowful cries and fever dreams. Who is this child, and what’s happened to her?
Truly, this book is special. I loved the main character, Elin. Looking back at some of the other reviews, I noticed that not everyone liked her. Some went as far as calling her a “Mary Sue.” I laugh at that solely due to the fact that many main characters, novels, movies, and tv-shows alike are, by definition, Mary Sues! For those who aren’t aware, Mary Sues are defined as “a type of female character who is depicted as unrealistically lacking in flaws or weaknesses.” This term was originally coined for fan-made characters in fanfictions. Mary Sues function as “a wish-fulfilment fantasy for the author or reader.”

Honestly, I did NOT find Elin to be a Mary Sue. She comes from a special tribe known for the strange abilities that allow them to connect and communicate with beasts and animals. But this is vital to her role as a catalyst for a prophecy. And despite her thirst for knowledge and her innate ability to communicate with animals, I found plenty of character faults. Firstly, due to her quiet and reserved nature, she finds it extremely hard to express emotion and sentiments to those she cares about. She’s introverted and private, and she often struggles to relate to others. Secondly, she loyal to her cause by a fault. Additionally, she’s extremely headstrong and stubborn, which doesn’t necessarily do her any favors.

Overall, I loved this book. I feel like this would make an excellent Ghibli film. I did find out that this was originally published in 2006, and it was eventually adapted into a manga and an anime. I’ll definitely be interested in checking those out! And I REALLY can’t wait for the next installment.