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Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Amari and the Night Brothers meets Nevermoor in this enchanting middle grade fantasy, inspired by Indian mythology and British folklore, about a neurodivergent heroine, a mysterious school, and a world of magical creatures.
Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen has always felt like she doesn’t fit in. She’s British-Indian in a mostly white town in England, her parents won’t talk about their pasts, and she has ADHD.
Oh, and she talks to books. More importantly, the books talk back.
When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in fairytales, Vanya discovers that her parents have secrets, and that there are a lot more monsters out there. Overnight, she’s whisked off to the enchanted library and school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists.
Life at Auramere is unexpected, exciting and wonderful. But even here, there’s no escaping monsters. The mysterious, powerful Wild Hunt is on the prowl, and Vanya will need all her creativity and courage to unmask its leader and stop them before they destroy the only place she’s ever truly belonged.
From the critically-acclaimed author of the Kiki Kallira series and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches comes an action-packed and magical middle grade fantasy, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan.
Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen has always felt like she doesn’t fit in. She’s British-Indian in a mostly white town in England, her parents won’t talk about their pasts, and she has ADHD.
Oh, and she talks to books. More importantly, the books talk back.
When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in fairytales, Vanya discovers that her parents have secrets, and that there are a lot more monsters out there. Overnight, she’s whisked off to the enchanted library and school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists.
Life at Auramere is unexpected, exciting and wonderful. But even here, there’s no escaping monsters. The mysterious, powerful Wild Hunt is on the prowl, and Vanya will need all her creativity and courage to unmask its leader and stop them before they destroy the only place she’s ever truly belonged.
From the critically-acclaimed author of the Kiki Kallira series and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches comes an action-packed and magical middle grade fantasy, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
92 people are currently reading
9296 people want to read
About the author
Sangu Mandanna
21 books8,486 followersSangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
April 15, 2026
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy with a neurodivergent lead and plenty of magic. Too many characters, not enough character development. Diverse mythical beings from global folklore, though they could have been used better. Great incorporation of the setting. Chosen One trope, which gets a bit annoying. First of a planned series. Cliffhanger ending. I liked it, but not as much as I had hoped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I have been a fan of this author ever since I read her adult fantasy works – they are cutesy but work well as cozy fantastical entertainers with loveable characters. However, she first gained acclaim for her middle-grade fantasy series (that’s on my TBR), so when I saw this new MG novel by her, I was delighted. Turns out, it has all the right ingredients, but perhaps some of the individual quantities could have been adjusted to deliver better.
Bookish Yays:
🦌 Vanya. A protagonist who is realistic to her age. She is impulsive and outspoken, endearing and frustrating. A mostly worthy lead for such a story.
🦌 Vanya’s parents and her bond with them. I love how she is open to communication with both her parents even though they obviously have secrets. Her connection with her father is the best, almost as cute as her father’s wacky nicknames for her.
🦌 The majestic Nilgiris. A big thank you to the author for using the Nilgiris as the location of Auramere! We often see the Himalayan mountain range in fiction, but India has so many more majestic ranges. (Someone please write a story set in the verdant Sahyadris! It’s such a perfect setting for a crime thriller!) The story makes great use of the location to create an immersive atmosphere, especially during the adventure and magic sequences.
🦌 The secondary human and animal characters in the book. Loveable in nature, inclusive in scope. To be clear, the inclusivity was just token in a couple of cases, but the rest was good. A special shoutout to Kasha the goose!
🦌 The positive representation of adults, which is getting rarer in middle-grade fiction. It was great to see this story depict responsible adults who know their role in a child’s life and who acknowledge their mistakes without deflecting the blame.
🦌 The B&W illustrations – quite intricate and gorgeous. The depiction of Auramere is especially stunning.
Bookish Okays:
🔮 The world-building is fabulous, but it isn't made full use of. There are too many locations detailed out, many of which aren’t even relevant to the core plot. Perhaps some things could have been reserved for subsequent books.
🔮 Similarly, there are too many episodic adventures, a few of which seem to be straight out of Harry Potter’s world. The first 60-65% is especially disjointed. Some scenes are definitely entertaining, but the clutter of concepts could have been trimmed in order to build up the pacing.
🔮 It is good to see ADHD get representation through Vanya. However, the depiction is very heavyhanded, as if readers need to reminded over and over that Vanya has ADHD but it is okay and she can still do great. Beating the same point repeatedly defeats its efficacy. Further, though we are told so many times that she has ADHD, we don’t see it in play for the most part. In many of the scenes, she functions without any issues. As such, the ADHD doesn’t feel like a natural part of the plot but like it’s forced in. I do appreciate how Vanya is open to her therapist’s advice and also love the inclusion of sensory issues, which most books don’t mention.
🔮 The fabulous mythical beings from around the world. Called the ‘Old ones’, these cover several legends surely familiar to many of us who read world fantasy and folklore. I loved seeing two of my favourites get fairly active roles in the plot. But here’s the thing: children (and many adults) won't know a majority of them. There isn't much description provided, so all we have in most cases is their name, which isn’t always familiar. No doubt these mythical beings are fascinating, but will children stop a story midway to check out the character’s antecedents? Perhaps a glossary at the end containing at least some basic info on them would have helped.
🔮 Auramere as a school. Fascinating in setting, in magical functionality such as the use of runes and the magical doors, and in extracurricular activities such as the monsoon games. But it is a school! I would have loved to see at least some teachers and classes in action.
🔮 The ‘Chosen One’ trope is never my favourite, but it is even more annoying in middle-grade fiction. Children get the wrong idea when one child puts themselves at risk without consulting adults and still ends up saving the day. Luckily, Vanya has at least one familiar to assist her. But with so many characters in the book, it would have been great to see more teamwork than solo endeavours.
🔮 The cover and the title both set slightly incorrect expectations. The scene on the cover from the middle of the book, so it somewhat spoils the surprise of the flying stag.
🔮 The passing of time in the story is quite rushed and surprisingly extensive. Months pass by without us even noticing; all we get is vague clues like “over the last few months”. At the same time, the pacing is on the slow side.
🔮 Personal issue: The use of the word ‘Amma’ to refer to the head of Auramere was a bit confusing to me. Amma is typically ‘mother’, so every time a character referred to Amma, I thought of Vanya’s mother as the story was in Vanya’s POV.
🔮 Minor issue: The titular name “Vanya” is actually short for Lavanya, a beautiful Indian name meaning ‘grace’. So I am a teeny bit disappointed that the book uses Vanya. For one, ’Vanya’ is a legitimate and fairly common Slavic name, so it makes the protagonist sound more Russian than Indian. Also, the ‘vanya’ of ‘Lavanya’ isn't pronounced the same way as ‘Vanya’ the whole name. But most readers will pronounce it the Russian way, which is a distortion.
Bookish Nays:
⛰ The titular “Wild Hunt”. Comes up multiple times in the book and I am still not clear what it is. 🤔 Surely at least some basic detailing could have been provided, given how vital it is to the plot.
⛰ Too much secret keeping. When characters repeatedly don’t answer questions but change the topic just to avoid revealing a secret, it gets annoying.
⛰ The cliffhanger ending. I get that this is the first of a series, but even such books need some closure. One can't open multiple subplots and keep every single one of them dangling! It makes the first book feel only like a foundation instead of a story by itself. Middle-grade books especially shouldn’t have such major cliffhangers.
Overall, I am not sure if my expectations from this author were too high, but the book ended up just in the ‘like’ category for me. It had potential to create a far bigger impact, but by spreading itself thin and not clarifying any of the major tracks, it ends up somewhat okay. I still like the setting, the characters, and the ‘Old Ones’, so I hope the next book improves on the character development and tightens the plot.
Recommended to middle-graders who would enjoy magical beings and adventurous action and wouldn’t mind open endings.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Macmillan Children's Books for providing the DRC of “Vanya and the Wild Hunt” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Eleven-year-old Vanya, a British-Indian girl with ADHD, stays with her bookseller parents in a mostly-white part of England. She doesn’t know much about their past, nor does she know why some books in the alcove talk to her. When her family is attacked by a strange monster, Vanya discovers a couple of her parents’ secrets. For safety and protection, Vanya is whisked off to a magical school based in the Nilgiri mountains of South India. Named ‘Auramere’, this school was also her parents’ alma mater, and probably the only place where she can escape the mysterious Wild Hunt. But soon Vanya realises that Auramere might not be the safe place her parents thought it would be. It is now up to her to make sure that the monsters don’t strike again, but if they do, to be prepared for it.
The story comes to us in Vanya’s first-person perspective.
I have been a fan of this author ever since I read her adult fantasy works – they are cutesy but work well as cozy fantastical entertainers with loveable characters. However, she first gained acclaim for her middle-grade fantasy series (that’s on my TBR), so when I saw this new MG novel by her, I was delighted. Turns out, it has all the right ingredients, but perhaps some of the individual quantities could have been adjusted to deliver better.
Bookish Yays:
🦌 Vanya. A protagonist who is realistic to her age. She is impulsive and outspoken, endearing and frustrating. A mostly worthy lead for such a story.
🦌 Vanya’s parents and her bond with them. I love how she is open to communication with both her parents even though they obviously have secrets. Her connection with her father is the best, almost as cute as her father’s wacky nicknames for her.
🦌 The majestic Nilgiris. A big thank you to the author for using the Nilgiris as the location of Auramere! We often see the Himalayan mountain range in fiction, but India has so many more majestic ranges. (Someone please write a story set in the verdant Sahyadris! It’s such a perfect setting for a crime thriller!) The story makes great use of the location to create an immersive atmosphere, especially during the adventure and magic sequences.
🦌 The secondary human and animal characters in the book. Loveable in nature, inclusive in scope. To be clear, the inclusivity was just token in a couple of cases, but the rest was good. A special shoutout to Kasha the goose!
🦌 The positive representation of adults, which is getting rarer in middle-grade fiction. It was great to see this story depict responsible adults who know their role in a child’s life and who acknowledge their mistakes without deflecting the blame.
🦌 The B&W illustrations – quite intricate and gorgeous. The depiction of Auramere is especially stunning.
Bookish Okays:
🔮 The world-building is fabulous, but it isn't made full use of. There are too many locations detailed out, many of which aren’t even relevant to the core plot. Perhaps some things could have been reserved for subsequent books.
🔮 Similarly, there are too many episodic adventures, a few of which seem to be straight out of Harry Potter’s world. The first 60-65% is especially disjointed. Some scenes are definitely entertaining, but the clutter of concepts could have been trimmed in order to build up the pacing.
🔮 It is good to see ADHD get representation through Vanya. However, the depiction is very heavyhanded, as if readers need to reminded over and over that Vanya has ADHD but it is okay and she can still do great. Beating the same point repeatedly defeats its efficacy. Further, though we are told so many times that she has ADHD, we don’t see it in play for the most part. In many of the scenes, she functions without any issues. As such, the ADHD doesn’t feel like a natural part of the plot but like it’s forced in. I do appreciate how Vanya is open to her therapist’s advice and also love the inclusion of sensory issues, which most books don’t mention.
🔮 The fabulous mythical beings from around the world. Called the ‘Old ones’, these cover several legends surely familiar to many of us who read world fantasy and folklore. I loved seeing two of my favourites get fairly active roles in the plot. But here’s the thing: children (and many adults) won't know a majority of them. There isn't much description provided, so all we have in most cases is their name, which isn’t always familiar. No doubt these mythical beings are fascinating, but will children stop a story midway to check out the character’s antecedents? Perhaps a glossary at the end containing at least some basic info on them would have helped.
🔮 Auramere as a school. Fascinating in setting, in magical functionality such as the use of runes and the magical doors, and in extracurricular activities such as the monsoon games. But it is a school! I would have loved to see at least some teachers and classes in action.
🔮 The ‘Chosen One’ trope is never my favourite, but it is even more annoying in middle-grade fiction. Children get the wrong idea when one child puts themselves at risk without consulting adults and still ends up saving the day. Luckily, Vanya has at least one familiar to assist her. But with so many characters in the book, it would have been great to see more teamwork than solo endeavours.
🔮 The cover and the title both set slightly incorrect expectations. The scene on the cover from the middle of the book, so it somewhat spoils the surprise of the flying stag.
🔮 The passing of time in the story is quite rushed and surprisingly extensive. Months pass by without us even noticing; all we get is vague clues like “over the last few months”. At the same time, the pacing is on the slow side.
🔮 Personal issue: The use of the word ‘Amma’ to refer to the head of Auramere was a bit confusing to me. Amma is typically ‘mother’, so every time a character referred to Amma, I thought of Vanya’s mother as the story was in Vanya’s POV.
🔮 Minor issue: The titular name “Vanya” is actually short for Lavanya, a beautiful Indian name meaning ‘grace’. So I am a teeny bit disappointed that the book uses Vanya. For one, ’Vanya’ is a legitimate and fairly common Slavic name, so it makes the protagonist sound more Russian than Indian. Also, the ‘vanya’ of ‘Lavanya’ isn't pronounced the same way as ‘Vanya’ the whole name. But most readers will pronounce it the Russian way, which is a distortion.
Bookish Nays:
⛰ The titular “Wild Hunt”. Comes up multiple times in the book and I am still not clear what it is. 🤔 Surely at least some basic detailing could have been provided, given how vital it is to the plot.
⛰ Too much secret keeping. When characters repeatedly don’t answer questions but change the topic just to avoid revealing a secret, it gets annoying.
⛰ The cliffhanger ending. I get that this is the first of a series, but even such books need some closure. One can't open multiple subplots and keep every single one of them dangling! It makes the first book feel only like a foundation instead of a story by itself. Middle-grade books especially shouldn’t have such major cliffhangers.
Overall, I am not sure if my expectations from this author were too high, but the book ended up just in the ‘like’ category for me. It had potential to create a far bigger impact, but by spreading itself thin and not clarifying any of the major tracks, it ends up somewhat okay. I still like the setting, the characters, and the ‘Old Ones’, so I hope the next book improves on the character development and tightens the plot.
Recommended to middle-graders who would enjoy magical beings and adventurous action and wouldn’t mind open endings.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Macmillan Children's Books for providing the DRC of “Vanya and the Wild Hunt” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
March 27, 2025
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Love the setting… but the book ends on a cliffhanger!
Eleven-year-old Vanya lives with her parents above their bookshop. As a British Indian with ADHD and an ability to converse with books, Vanya knows she cannot fit in at school or anywhere else.
However, when her family is attacked by a monster, Vanya finds out she has special powers like her parents. She is sent to Auramere, a magical academy for training kids like her. But with The Wild Hunt on the prowl and mounting danger, Vanya has to find the master and stop the monsters before they destroy everything she holds dear.
The story comes in Vanya’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I’ve read the author’s adult fiction, but this is my first MG book by her.
Though the MC is a British Indian, her Indian identity is limited to skin color since she was born and brought up in Norwich. This plays an interesting role in her character arc (those one-liners are funny). On a side note, the illustrations make her look very much Indian (which I love).
Vanya’s (Lavanya is a lovely name!) voice is quite authentic and a combination of sass, vulnerability, wonder, fear, curiosity, and recklessness. Yeah, she is stubborn too, but it is necessary. Her ADHD is presented well alongside the insecurities it creates. All in all, we have a great narrator who can make us laugh and roll our eyes in the same paragraph. Her hair… my god! The long and thick braid reminded me of mine when I was the same age. Now? Don’t even ask! I’m grateful to have some hair left on my head.
The author blends various folklore narratives and uses mythical creatures from different cultures. The more knowledge you have about these, the greater your enjoyment. I enjoyed this salad bowl since I knew many of them (including the ones from Hindu Puranas).
The setting of Auramere is terrific. It has the potential to sustain a series (at least a trilogy). Heck, I hoped it would be a series until I realized (too late) that it is one. Moreover, the book ends on a cliffhanger! It would have been nice to know this in advance. I prefer starting a book with the right expectations. Wonder why there’s no mention of the series on Amazon, Goodreads, or NetGalley?
The pacing is slow in the first 35% but picks up momentum and sustains it afterward. This works to establish the plot and the characters. The sprinkling of B&W pencil illustrations adds a nice visual touch. The illustrations are wonderful. Apart from Vanya’s hair, my favorite is that of Reya. It was just wow!
The side characters are cool – diverse and inclusive. Some stand out more than others (not uncommon). The parents and adults do have a role, though limited in some instances. Given the genre, you can expect kids to get into trouble by rebelling or doing things that put them in harm’s way.
I love the nicknames Vanya’s dad uses. He rarely repeats the same thing! At one point, he calls her 'little Aardvark' and my desi brain read it as adrak (ginger), lol. Not the same at all!
To summarize, Vanya and the Wild Hunt is an exciting and adventurous story with elaborate world-building and interesting characters. What with the cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the next installment and hope to get the ARC whenever it is available!
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #VanyaAndTheWildHunt
***
Oh, the flowers on Nilgris that bloom once every twelve years are called Neelakurinji. This is how they look. Beautiful, right?
One Liner: Love the setting… but the book ends on a cliffhanger!
Eleven-year-old Vanya lives with her parents above their bookshop. As a British Indian with ADHD and an ability to converse with books, Vanya knows she cannot fit in at school or anywhere else.
However, when her family is attacked by a monster, Vanya finds out she has special powers like her parents. She is sent to Auramere, a magical academy for training kids like her. But with The Wild Hunt on the prowl and mounting danger, Vanya has to find the master and stop the monsters before they destroy everything she holds dear.
The story comes in Vanya’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I’ve read the author’s adult fiction, but this is my first MG book by her.
Though the MC is a British Indian, her Indian identity is limited to skin color since she was born and brought up in Norwich. This plays an interesting role in her character arc (those one-liners are funny). On a side note, the illustrations make her look very much Indian (which I love).
Vanya’s (Lavanya is a lovely name!) voice is quite authentic and a combination of sass, vulnerability, wonder, fear, curiosity, and recklessness. Yeah, she is stubborn too, but it is necessary. Her ADHD is presented well alongside the insecurities it creates. All in all, we have a great narrator who can make us laugh and roll our eyes in the same paragraph. Her hair… my god! The long and thick braid reminded me of mine when I was the same age. Now? Don’t even ask! I’m grateful to have some hair left on my head.
The author blends various folklore narratives and uses mythical creatures from different cultures. The more knowledge you have about these, the greater your enjoyment. I enjoyed this salad bowl since I knew many of them (including the ones from Hindu Puranas).
The setting of Auramere is terrific. It has the potential to sustain a series (at least a trilogy). Heck, I hoped it would be a series until I realized (too late) that it is one. Moreover, the book ends on a cliffhanger! It would have been nice to know this in advance. I prefer starting a book with the right expectations. Wonder why there’s no mention of the series on Amazon, Goodreads, or NetGalley?
The pacing is slow in the first 35% but picks up momentum and sustains it afterward. This works to establish the plot and the characters. The sprinkling of B&W pencil illustrations adds a nice visual touch. The illustrations are wonderful. Apart from Vanya’s hair, my favorite is that of Reya. It was just wow!
The side characters are cool – diverse and inclusive. Some stand out more than others (not uncommon). The parents and adults do have a role, though limited in some instances. Given the genre, you can expect kids to get into trouble by rebelling or doing things that put them in harm’s way.
I love the nicknames Vanya’s dad uses. He rarely repeats the same thing! At one point, he calls her 'little Aardvark' and my desi brain read it as adrak (ginger), lol. Not the same at all!
To summarize, Vanya and the Wild Hunt is an exciting and adventurous story with elaborate world-building and interesting characters. What with the cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the next installment and hope to get the ARC whenever it is available!
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #VanyaAndTheWildHunt
***
Oh, the flowers on Nilgris that bloom once every twelve years are called Neelakurinji. This is how they look. Beautiful, right?
March 25, 2025
This was cute, if a bit boring at times. I felt it hard to connect emotionally to the story, like I was listening to someone tell me about the events happening rather than feeling the characters experience them but I'll admit that could just be a me thing.
Loved the world-building and the rep. It really was done well.
I'd recommend this to my younger siblings and people that really love MG, but maybe not to a kid that's struggling to get into reading.
Loved the world-building and the rep. It really was done well.
I'd recommend this to my younger siblings and people that really love MG, but maybe not to a kid that's struggling to get into reading.
August 5, 2025
Me when the plot starts picking up, and I’m at the edge of my seat, and then the book ends on a cliffhanger: •_•
January 29, 2025
Vanya and the Wild Hunt is middle grade fantasy excellence. It’s action packed and brimming with imagination, adventure and heart.
Its cast of characters were intensely lovable, the world building vivid and easy to understand and the story itself instantly captured my attention.
I absolutely adored the discussions around Vanya’s ADHD. They were heartfelt and honest, whilst wonderfully normalising conversations around neurodivergence. It was also such a joy to see therapy being positively represented! I also thought Vanya’s internal monologue surrounding as being British with Indian parents and the feelings of otherness that caused were really great to read.
Overall, this is a story of self acceptance, identity, magic, friendship, family and adventure. It’s a superb series opener and I’m already eagerly awaiting book two (and internally crushed that I have to wait a year to get it!)
What to expect:
• magic school
• animal familiars
• talking books
• magical gadgets
• secret worlds
• epic plot twists
• adhd and british indian rep (fmc)
• autistic rep (side character)
• lgbtqia+ rep (side characters)
Its cast of characters were intensely lovable, the world building vivid and easy to understand and the story itself instantly captured my attention.
I absolutely adored the discussions around Vanya’s ADHD. They were heartfelt and honest, whilst wonderfully normalising conversations around neurodivergence. It was also such a joy to see therapy being positively represented! I also thought Vanya’s internal monologue surrounding as being British with Indian parents and the feelings of otherness that caused were really great to read.
Overall, this is a story of self acceptance, identity, magic, friendship, family and adventure. It’s a superb series opener and I’m already eagerly awaiting book two (and internally crushed that I have to wait a year to get it!)
What to expect:
• magic school
• animal familiars
• talking books
• magical gadgets
• secret worlds
• epic plot twists
• adhd and british indian rep (fmc)
• autistic rep (side character)
• lgbtqia+ rep (side characters)
March 25, 2026
My heart burst when I realized that the school was located in Tamil Nadu. What a delight. Read via audio (narrated by Safiyya Ingar).
June 28, 2025
Interesting, well written start to (hopefully) a new series, by one of my favourite authors.
3.25/5 ⭐
3.25/5 ⭐
July 29, 2025
I loved everything about this book - the amazing enchanted world, the equal parts amazing and exasperating protagonist (La)Vanya and the nonstop action that drives the plot. It was a complete adventure that I now know spills over into the next book with this one ending on a cliffhanger.
Vanya is a British-Indian 11 yo living in Norwich. She's neurodivergent and has been diagnosed with ADHD and she's never felt like she fits in at school or among other kids. She's anxious to be liked and so hides the parts of herself that she feels are different. She's able to be herself only in the bookshop her parents own where the books talk to her and she talks back. Her parents are also hiding something about their past lives from her, something she knows because her mother is always overprotective and there is a white mongoose hovering around their flat. Her world implodes the day a monster attacks her family and she is sent away to the land with the enchanted library, Auramere where she will be safe from the Old ones, all those creatures assumed to be mythical. She discovers along with friendship and a sense of belonging, that monsters are everywhere.
I thought Vanya was written really well. She's smart, curious and loyal but also impulsive and impatient. Her stay in Auramere where she learns to be herself are filled with fantastic experiences. She behaved just like a typical 11 yo in many ways, stubbornly refusing to be left out of anything and wanting to be a part of the action but also unsure of her own abilities to make a difference.The Old ones are based on myths from several regions including of course India and I knew many of them and enjoyed the way they have been included in the story. The worldbuilding was excellent with so many wonderful characters and a solid mystery involving the identity of the old one known as the Wild Hunt. Auramere being set in the Nilgiri mountains was a delight.
The magical creatures and familiars that included a haughty patrallaka or flying stag and a very self-confident goose among others were so much fun. The illustrations that pepper the book were amazing especially for the way Vanya has been drawn with her thick braid and very Indian features. They definitely enhance the story.
It was a read full of fun and spirit and emotions, not to mention suspense, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out so I can meet Vanya again!
Vanya is a British-Indian 11 yo living in Norwich. She's neurodivergent and has been diagnosed with ADHD and she's never felt like she fits in at school or among other kids. She's anxious to be liked and so hides the parts of herself that she feels are different. She's able to be herself only in the bookshop her parents own where the books talk to her and she talks back. Her parents are also hiding something about their past lives from her, something she knows because her mother is always overprotective and there is a white mongoose hovering around their flat. Her world implodes the day a monster attacks her family and she is sent away to the land with the enchanted library, Auramere where she will be safe from the Old ones, all those creatures assumed to be mythical. She discovers along with friendship and a sense of belonging, that monsters are everywhere.
I thought Vanya was written really well. She's smart, curious and loyal but also impulsive and impatient. Her stay in Auramere where she learns to be herself are filled with fantastic experiences. She behaved just like a typical 11 yo in many ways, stubbornly refusing to be left out of anything and wanting to be a part of the action but also unsure of her own abilities to make a difference.The Old ones are based on myths from several regions including of course India and I knew many of them and enjoyed the way they have been included in the story. The worldbuilding was excellent with so many wonderful characters and a solid mystery involving the identity of the old one known as the Wild Hunt. Auramere being set in the Nilgiri mountains was a delight.
The magical creatures and familiars that included a haughty patrallaka or flying stag and a very self-confident goose among others were so much fun. The illustrations that pepper the book were amazing especially for the way Vanya has been drawn with her thick braid and very Indian features. They definitely enhance the story.
It was a read full of fun and spirit and emotions, not to mention suspense, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out so I can meet Vanya again!
March 6, 2025
4.5
“Vanya, you’re allowed to be yourself…. No one is as different or as alone as they think.”
This middle grade book’s blurb says it’s for fans of the Nevermoor series and Amari and the Night Brothers, both of which I adore. And it’s by Sangu Mandanna, who wrote my go-to comfort read that I come back to over and over. This is all to say that I had high expectations coming into the book, and it definitely delivered!
We have a neurodivergent protagonist who struggles to be kind to herself and worries about fitting in, an inclusive magical school that has normalized the teaching of social/emotional skills, so many valuable lessons like consent and self-acceptance… oh, and there are talking books! This has all of the whimsy of your favorite magical school novels, with excellent life lessons and diverse characters. There is action and adventure, there is powerful discussion and self-reflection, and there is magical whimsy aplenty.
This will be part of a series, though I’m not sure how many books will eventually be in it. What I do know is that I’m invested and I’ll be reading as many of them as she writes! My original rating was 4 stars, but I bumped it up a half star because it made me cry twice 😭😍
I listened to the audio for this one, performed by Safiyya Ingar, and it was so lovely. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio edition!
March 2, 2025
An enjoyable, fast paced story of a girl with magical powers.
It's obviously got a lot in common with the Harry Potter series of books simply by featuring a magical school, but Vanya is a girl from an Indian background with a ADHD diagnosis to deal with. There are a lot of similarities, but Vanya and the Wild Hunt does manage have key differences in the way magic is carried out, the relationship with animal familiars, and the diversity of characters.
I did feel that this was a little too fast paced at times, it would have been good to occasionally slow the action a little to let the characters develop more, but there is a lot of action packed into this.
I also struggled a little with the representation in this feeling very forced at times. While I'm certainly not against the inclusion of a diverse cast of characters it did feel a bit over done at times, more of an exercise in ensuring different characters were included than a natural part of the storyline.
My biggest issue with this though was Vanya's ADHD. I loved the inclusion of this in a main character, and the way many of her ADHD traits were explained and dealt with, but I just felt that this seemed to be completely ignored at some points of the story.
Apart from the few negatives, overall this was a fun, fast paced story. A bit dark at times but a good, fun children's story.
It's obviously got a lot in common with the Harry Potter series of books simply by featuring a magical school, but Vanya is a girl from an Indian background with a ADHD diagnosis to deal with. There are a lot of similarities, but Vanya and the Wild Hunt does manage have key differences in the way magic is carried out, the relationship with animal familiars, and the diversity of characters.
I did feel that this was a little too fast paced at times, it would have been good to occasionally slow the action a little to let the characters develop more, but there is a lot of action packed into this.
I also struggled a little with the representation in this feeling very forced at times. While I'm certainly not against the inclusion of a diverse cast of characters it did feel a bit over done at times, more of an exercise in ensuring different characters were included than a natural part of the storyline.
My biggest issue with this though was Vanya's ADHD. I loved the inclusion of this in a main character, and the way many of her ADHD traits were explained and dealt with, but I just felt that this seemed to be completely ignored at some points of the story.
Apart from the few negatives, overall this was a fun, fast paced story. A bit dark at times but a good, fun children's story.
August 2, 2025
God, I love middle grade fantasy. It’s always such a wholesome, fun experience. I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of how I felt reading (trigger warning) Harry Potter, with the main character, Vanya, discovering all the fun and cool things at her new school. What I enjoyed most about this book was reading about Vanya’s experience with ADHD. The specific things she struggles with (such as sensory issues, losing interest with things after being obsessed with them, etc.) gave me a better understanding of how the disorder can be, and I felt a little seen (don’t know what that says about me). All of the relationships in this book were also really cute. And I adored the animals! What a good time. I’ll be recommending this to a bunch of kiddos.
February 12, 2025
I'm kind of obsessed with this. I loved Vanya and Auramere and all the side characters. I think Vanya and the Wild Hunt is just a perfect magical school book, and I am very excited for future books! Also I absolutely need to preorder a copy so I can see all the art in its finished glory.
February 8, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this novel. Vanya and the Wild Hunt will definitely be entering the “too read” list for both of my children. Apart from being just a delightful fantasy novel that deals in world myths and fantastic creatures, the depiction of ADHD and general existence as an adolescent just trying to fit in at school was excellent. I loved how kind, independent, and brave Vanya was. And the adults in her life generally work very hard to help Vanya understand her life and the world around her. Unlike some young readers stories of the past, the adults don’t ignore or dismiss the concerns and questions of the children. Plus, talking animal companions, sentient mounts, and general magic school shenanigans really make this story a hit. I hope we’ll be getting many more tales from Auramere in the future!
January 24, 2026
This was everything and more that I wanted in a MG novel. This is an exciting adventure made even better by the fact that this is the first in the series and that this ended in a cliffhanger.The characters are well thought out and plotted and they are very diverse, with the main character being British/Indian. I liked how the main character sufferers from ADHD and this is mentioned throughout the book. The author doesn't shy away from showing the reader what it's really like to live with ADHD. I really like the world the author had created and I ended up wishing I lived there.But what I liked most of all was the fact that books could talk, that they had personalities. And of course Vanya's familiar was awesome.Overall this is going to be a wonderful edition to any library and I can't wait for the next book.
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September 2, 2025
4.25 stars. A whimsical good read!
June 24, 2025
This was such an amazing story! Vanya was such a fearless Mc and her coming to terms with her ADHD was really heartwarming as well. I definitely want to see where the story goes after that plot twist at the end.
Also I think Sangu Mandanna is becoming an autobuy author for me.
Also I think Sangu Mandanna is becoming an autobuy author for me.
March 6, 2026
4.75 wow what a great book! a modern take on the chosen one trope and an amazing twist at the end!!! Will definitely be reading other books by the author. When you feel like you need to reread Harry Potter and support a transphobic cunt, pick up this instead and you'll be so glad you did!
October 16, 2025
The main character is a young 11 year old girl who is sent on an adventure to a new world she's never heard of. Vanya has ADHD, and that is somwthing that she talks about throughout the book and it specifically points out different traits that she has because of her ADHD, most notably sensory issues, struggles concentrating, and a need for newness and not being able to pace herself when finding a new interest.
I listened to the audiobook through Libby after Mommacusses mentioned it on her podcast bibliophage and she sold it as Harry Potter with diverse characters and no guilt because you're not supporting a transphobe, and she was so right. I loved every minute of this book and I can't recommend it enough.
I listened to the audiobook through Libby after Mommacusses mentioned it on her podcast bibliophage and she sold it as Harry Potter with diverse characters and no guilt because you're not supporting a transphobe, and she was so right. I loved every minute of this book and I can't recommend it enough.
December 19, 2025
4.5☆
𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
⟡
This is just a fantastic kids book (but definitely one for all ages) that is magical and full of adventure and warmth
This story has the perfect balance, it dives right in and it's action packed from start to finish without being overwhelming, the world building is vivid and vast but easy to digest and keeps you fully immersed. I always love a story where you learn about the world as the main character does
The characters are so lovable. They gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes, unique and fun but also loving and supportive. I loved Jasper and Roman especially and I hope Ben and Penny are fleshed out a bit more in the future.
Vanya is such a great main character to follow and the discussions around her neurodivergence (ADHD) was done so beautifully. The therapy she did was represented so well and was interesting to see through the eyes of an 11 year old. I feel like Sangu has this innate understanding and appreciation of children that I love to see here and in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Vanya feeling so different and masking all the time touched my own inner child and seeing the encouragement she got to be herself was heartwarming. I also appreciate that Vanya's ADHD and Ben's autism and neurodivergence as a whole are all named, there's no vague "sort of" rep that a lot of fantasy books tend to do. I truly recommend this to anyone who has an ND kid or was a struggling ND kid
This story is just filled to the brim with themes of self discovery and acceptance, magic, friendship and family and adventure. It is a very uplifting read and I was engaged the entire time, I can't wait for the next book!
𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔:
🪿magic boarding school
✨animal familiars
🪿the illustrations
✨talking books
🪿ND rep
✨LGBT rep
🪿major Harry Potter vibes
✨unraveling family secrets
🪿folklore
✨portal doors
𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
⟡
This is just a fantastic kids book (but definitely one for all ages) that is magical and full of adventure and warmth
This story has the perfect balance, it dives right in and it's action packed from start to finish without being overwhelming, the world building is vivid and vast but easy to digest and keeps you fully immersed. I always love a story where you learn about the world as the main character does
The characters are so lovable. They gave me The House in the Cerulean Sea vibes, unique and fun but also loving and supportive. I loved Jasper and Roman especially and I hope Ben and Penny are fleshed out a bit more in the future.
Vanya is such a great main character to follow and the discussions around her neurodivergence (ADHD) was done so beautifully. The therapy she did was represented so well and was interesting to see through the eyes of an 11 year old. I feel like Sangu has this innate understanding and appreciation of children that I love to see here and in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Vanya feeling so different and masking all the time touched my own inner child and seeing the encouragement she got to be herself was heartwarming. I also appreciate that Vanya's ADHD and Ben's autism and neurodivergence as a whole are all named, there's no vague "sort of" rep that a lot of fantasy books tend to do. I truly recommend this to anyone who has an ND kid or was a struggling ND kid
This story is just filled to the brim with themes of self discovery and acceptance, magic, friendship and family and adventure. It is a very uplifting read and I was engaged the entire time, I can't wait for the next book!
𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔:
🪿magic boarding school
✨animal familiars
🪿the illustrations
✨talking books
🪿ND rep
✨LGBT rep
🪿major Harry Potter vibes
✨unraveling family secrets
🪿folklore
✨portal doors
March 1, 2025
*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great middle grade fantasy. I've read quite a lot by now and this felt wholly original. I had a great time and I kept being surprised. I honestly didn't see any of the twists coming. I really liked the school and the vibes and the main character. It was such a fast read but it packed in a lot, the characters were quite layered and the plot kept me on my toes. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Vanya. Simply put, this was an incredible middle grade book.
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great middle grade fantasy. I've read quite a lot by now and this felt wholly original. I had a great time and I kept being surprised. I honestly didn't see any of the twists coming. I really liked the school and the vibes and the main character. It was such a fast read but it packed in a lot, the characters were quite layered and the plot kept me on my toes. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Vanya. Simply put, this was an incredible middle grade book.
July 12, 2025
I am obsessed with Vanya and her world, and cannot wait to read more of her adventures. And what a rich magical world it is! I love a magical school for children. I love that this magical world is rich with diverse characters with diverse brains, languages, and cultures. I will be sharing this book with all the middle grade children I know, anyone who enjoys middle grade fiction.
February 10, 2025
This book was SO good!!!! I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Perfect for lovers of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Harry Potter, Amari and the Night Brothers, and Nevermoor.
February 24, 2026
I love this middle grade read. I listened to it in the car with the kids. The audiobook does a great job, too.
Magical world, magical talking books, animal familiars, magical pocket dimension with magical boarding school.
I love this one as a Harry Potter replacement or Golden Compass replacement. Aimed at a younger crowd: 3rd-5th grades, give or take. Vanya has ADHD, lives in England, has always felt out of place, and her mother never ever ever talks about the past. Then one day she turns back home because she’s forgotten her homework and her parents have been attacked. Vanya manages to slay the attacker with some magical thing her mom had on hand; this opens up a world of questions and she ends up at magical boarding school living with her mom’s best friend and his husband.
Vanya finds friends for the first time (one of whom introduces her to his family and they’re Zimbabwean! And has stew and sadza for dinner) and learns to just be herself for the first time.
Overall a feel good book about finding yourself, being comfortable in your own skin, and choosing hard things to protect the people you love.
Magical world, magical talking books, animal familiars, magical pocket dimension with magical boarding school.
I love this one as a Harry Potter replacement or Golden Compass replacement. Aimed at a younger crowd: 3rd-5th grades, give or take. Vanya has ADHD, lives in England, has always felt out of place, and her mother never ever ever talks about the past. Then one day she turns back home because she’s forgotten her homework and her parents have been attacked. Vanya manages to slay the attacker with some magical thing her mom had on hand; this opens up a world of questions and she ends up at magical boarding school living with her mom’s best friend and his husband.
Vanya finds friends for the first time (one of whom introduces her to his family and they’re Zimbabwean! And has stew and sadza for dinner) and learns to just be herself for the first time.
Overall a feel good book about finding yourself, being comfortable in your own skin, and choosing hard things to protect the people you love.
May 31, 2025
This was a lovely book that included folklore from several different cultures. It begins with the introduction of Vanya who can communicate with books (as they speak to her). She finds out that both her parents are magical beings when they are attacked by an "old one" (mythical being).
June 2, 2025
Some parts felt more rushed than I'd like, but I appreciate the short accessible length and Vanya absolutely rocks.
September 6, 2025
YA fare, but too good to only let young adults read. Can hardly wait for the next installment.
March 9, 2026
“Maybe all this time I’d spent trying to be more like everyone else meant I’d missed out on finding people who were more like me.”
August 6, 2025
I think there was more potential in the story for emotional connection than was executed. But a cute adventure story still!
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