Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 0062847368
Pages: 352
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

The Royal gardener’s daughter sets off on a quest to save her kingdom.
Cerys, the gardener’s daughter, had been living a very boring yet peaceful life. She knew that she would take over the royal garden once her father retires and she was fine with that fate. There’s one problem though, Cery has a magical gift that makes her stand out in all the wrong ways. When the coronation of Princess Anwen, one of Cery’s only friends, is disrupted by the woodcurse Cery and her fox friend rush into the Wildwood to try and break the curse. Haunting, dark, and descriptive writing creates an oppressive atmosphere that is the perfect setting for all the twisted creatures Cery and her fox must come into contact with. The romance in this book takes a back seat to the relationships between friends. One drawback is that all characters are white. Recommended for ages 13-18

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha public library