Creatures of the In Between
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Princess Mononoke meets How to Train Your Dragon in this magical middle grade adventure from Cindy Lin, author of The Twelve, featuring a blend of East and Southeast Asian folklore and mythical creatures, and starring a boy with a hero’s destiny.
Prince Jin is running out of time.
He must find a monster companion before his thirteenth birthday or lose the throne completely.
And that means travelling to the only place where monsters still live: the legendary, dangerous Whisper Island.
But untold perils await Jin there. The magical creatures he seeks are not so easily swayed, and an even greater threat looms on the horizon—one that could threaten everything Jin hopes to achieve.
A Prince’s Coming of Age Story: Prince Jin has just months to find a mythical partner and prove he’s worthy of the throne—a deadline that could cost him everything.The Dangerous Whisper Island: Jin travels to a legendary island sanctuary, the last known home of magical beasts, where untold dangers and powerful creatures await him.Kirin, Dragons, and Phoenixes: A fantasy world inspired by East and Southeast Asian legends, filled with creatures like the noble kirin, powerful dragons, and the mysterious piyao.The Power of a Whisperer: Perfect for young readers who love adventure, magic, and stories about the unbreakable bond between heroes and their incredible animal companions.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The sole remaining scion of an imperial family visits a monster-filled island in order to secure the throne in this action-packed, East and Southeast Asian folklore–inspired duology starter from Lin (The Twelve). In the empire of Samtei, also known as the Three Realms, crown prince Jin approaches his 13th birthday and subsequent ascension to the Triad Throne. But tradition requires emperors to gain the trust of a monster companion, and no such creatures have been seen in the kingdom for years—save for his powerful empress dowager grandmother's malicious phoenix. Inspired by an overheard conversation and planning to return with a monstermate, Jin travels to legendary monster sanctuary Whisper Island, joined by his dog, Shishi, and a stowaway servant, Bingyoo. Upon arriving at the island's ruined village, he encounters creatures he's only read about and slowly befriends the handful of people living there following an attack. With their help, Jin learns the art of Whispering, a skill used to bond with magical beings, and finds an even greater conflict than his own looming large. Court intrigue, daring escapades, and quick-moving battle sequences characterize this entertaining read. Though supporting personalities are not as developed as Jin's, Lin's lush descriptions bring her mythical creatures and the mysteries of Samtei's past to life. A bestiary concludes. Ages 8–12.
