Review Detail

Tani has trained her whole life to become a Serpent Rider, one of the warriors bonded to an elemental serpent and trained to protect their village from monsters. However, it's hard to feel worthy of the prophecy that she will fend off the Great Bakunawa when her own serpent egg has yet to hatch, leaving her behind her fellow trainees. Desperation to prove herself leads Tani to make an impulsive bargain with a woman in the woods, which grants her the bakunawa of her dreams - but soon reveals itself to have a terrible cost.

This story is spunky and full of heart, just like Tani. She's a great fighter, tree climber, and conspiratorial sister. She has to work with her friends and not-so-friends to fight fearsome beasts, and I loved getting to know the monsters from a new and unfamiliar mythology. Plus, the bakunawa (elemental serpents) are that perfect mix of deadly magic and adorable animal companions, and they're as much characters as the people.

It's also cool to see how the kid warriors and adults work together to save their village. The youngsters might be impulsive or not understand the rules, but at the end of the day they still respect and love their parents and teachers, and none of them could have accomplished the same thing alone.

Pick this up for a standalone adventure that's rich in monsters and proves compassion and knowledge are some of the greatest gifts of all.