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.