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On Hidden Wings: A Middle Grade Fantasy Book
First hide your true self.
Becka‘s secret endangers her life. She’s a winged Centaur in a kingdom now systematically hunting all non-Humans to enslave them—or worse. Her one hope is to use her shapeshifting abilities to hide until her father returns to take her family to safety. But when the army closes in on her secret, Becka can’t wait anymore. If she doesn’t find her father now, she may lose him—or her chance to escape—forever. She’ll do anything to reunite her family—even break into the palace archives to discover her father’s fate.
The last thing she expects to find is a potential ally among the enemy. Locked away in his own castle, young Prince Ryandru also has a secret that has left him desperate for a friend. They’ll have to trust each other to discover the truth they both seek. But with traitors grasping for the throne and Becka’s family in jeopardy, revealing their secrets could destroy all they hold dear.
Jump into the adventure of this clean middle grade fantasy featuring forbidden friendship, accepting your unique self, and a world of mythical creatures including Fauns, Griffins, Pegasi, and more! A perfect choice for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Becka‘s secret endangers her life. She’s a winged Centaur in a kingdom now systematically hunting all non-Humans to enslave them—or worse. Her one hope is to use her shapeshifting abilities to hide until her father returns to take her family to safety. But when the army closes in on her secret, Becka can’t wait anymore. If she doesn’t find her father now, she may lose him—or her chance to escape—forever. She’ll do anything to reunite her family—even break into the palace archives to discover her father’s fate.
The last thing she expects to find is a potential ally among the enemy. Locked away in his own castle, young Prince Ryandru also has a secret that has left him desperate for a friend. They’ll have to trust each other to discover the truth they both seek. But with traitors grasping for the throne and Becka’s family in jeopardy, revealing their secrets could destroy all they hold dear.
Jump into the adventure of this clean middle grade fantasy featuring forbidden friendship, accepting your unique self, and a world of mythical creatures including Fauns, Griffins, Pegasi, and more! A perfect choice for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia.
- GenresFantasyMiddle Grade
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2023
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Adare Elyse
2 books6 followersAdare Elyse writes young adult fantasy and science fiction novels when she isn’t busy dressing in medieval costume and contriving puns. Her work has earned multiple awards and featured in various publications. Powered by tea and epic music, she draws inspiration from the nearby beautiful Rocky Mountains, her travels around the world, and her passion to share uplifting truth in fiction. You can check out her newsletter freebies, latest books, and blog at adare-elyse.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 10, 2024
This is a clean fantasy adventure for middle grade and teen readers. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about having the mythological creatures constantly shapeshift into humans, but this ability eventually became one of the most interesting plot points of the book. This “hidden wings” factor—where no one is quite what they seem and it’s hard to tell who is actually on which side—gave the world a unique spin.
This is a great debut novel for Adare Elyse and I hope she continues writing
This is a great debut novel for Adare Elyse and I hope she continues writing
May 5, 2025
There are VERY few inspirational fantasy fiction that features centaurs. There are hardly ANY that feature them as a protagonist! So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this beautiful book!
This story tells of Becka a young winged centaur (half-centaur, half Seraph) struggling to hide her identity in a city where humans' hatred against the Dynamics (half-humans that can shape shift into Centaurs, Minotaurs, Fauns, and Seraphs) runs rampant. With only her seraph-mother for company, Becka longs to reunite with her centaur-father, who had vanished in the attack of her former home. In a desperate attempt to learn more of her father's whereabouts, she sneaks into the palace... and stumbles upon Prince Ryandru, a lonely 12-year old boy... with a mysterious past. As the danger closes in on Becka's family and Ryandru, they embark on an incredible journey that could change the future for both their races.
This was such a facinating book! Adaire Elyse (a new author for me!) has created a world of shape-shifting Dynamics, pegasi that sing healing, and griffins that regulate storms. While this is labeled as "Middle-Gradde", this heartfelt fantasy can be enjoyed by young adults and even adults (like myself!). I truly enjoyed the friendship between Becka and Ryandru throughout the story, and the elements of the author's faith in God the Lifegiver were beautifully woven throughout.
Spoiler:
A fantastical read and a fun way to kick off the summer! Looking forward to a future sequel to come!
This story tells of Becka a young winged centaur (half-centaur, half Seraph) struggling to hide her identity in a city where humans' hatred against the Dynamics (half-humans that can shape shift into Centaurs, Minotaurs, Fauns, and Seraphs) runs rampant. With only her seraph-mother for company, Becka longs to reunite with her centaur-father, who had vanished in the attack of her former home. In a desperate attempt to learn more of her father's whereabouts, she sneaks into the palace... and stumbles upon Prince Ryandru, a lonely 12-year old boy... with a mysterious past. As the danger closes in on Becka's family and Ryandru, they embark on an incredible journey that could change the future for both their races.
This was such a facinating book! Adaire Elyse (a new author for me!) has created a world of shape-shifting Dynamics, pegasi that sing healing, and griffins that regulate storms. While this is labeled as "Middle-Gradde", this heartfelt fantasy can be enjoyed by young adults and even adults (like myself!). I truly enjoyed the friendship between Becka and Ryandru throughout the story, and the elements of the author's faith in God the Lifegiver were beautifully woven throughout.
Spoiler:
A fantastical read and a fun way to kick off the summer! Looking forward to a future sequel to come!
November 22, 2023
Bookworm Alert! I've just finished my ARC of Adare Elyse's middle-grade fantasy page-turner, On Hidden Wings. Dive into a story with the magic of Narnia and the creative magic systems and wordplay unique to Elyse's narrative voice!
Elyse's world-building is nothing short of magical, packed with mythical creatures like Fauns, Griffins, and Pegasi. But it's the complex characters and themes of friendship, hope, and self-acceptance that made this book soar, even for us grown-ups.
Whether you're a kid looking for an adventure or an adult who wants to lose themselves in a fantastic world, On Hidden Wings is a five-star read that won't disappoint. Get ready to take flight!
Elyse's world-building is nothing short of magical, packed with mythical creatures like Fauns, Griffins, and Pegasi. But it's the complex characters and themes of friendship, hope, and self-acceptance that made this book soar, even for us grown-ups.
Whether you're a kid looking for an adventure or an adult who wants to lose themselves in a fantastic world, On Hidden Wings is a five-star read that won't disappoint. Get ready to take flight!
January 10, 2026
Loved this book. Should there ever be a sequel, I'd definitely read it.
May 19, 2024
Wonderful middle-grade fantasy adventure! In a kingdom where shapeshifters are outlawed, Becka makes an unusual friend who helps her in the search for her father. The fantasy elements are smart but approachable, fantastic for young minds and parents of young minds looking for clean, imaginative fiction.
September 2, 2025
5 star rating for the genre.
YA is not my go-to but my teen loves fantasy. Since most clean fantasy she reads is not CF, I took the opportunity to preread On Hidden Wings. I can say that i was impressed; this was an enjoyable story, even for adults.
Filled with centaur, seraphs, griffins... but no fairies (which are my teen's favorite fantasy creatures). Still, there's plenty of room for a sequel.
YA is not my go-to but my teen loves fantasy. Since most clean fantasy she reads is not CF, I took the opportunity to preread On Hidden Wings. I can say that i was impressed; this was an enjoyable story, even for adults.
Filled with centaur, seraphs, griffins... but no fairies (which are my teen's favorite fantasy creatures). Still, there's plenty of room for a sequel.
August 2, 2024
Adare Elyse has written a delightful middle school fantasy novel. On Hidden Wings has hints of the Biblical story throughout. The elements of fantasy are very evident - particularly mythical creatures. The book also includes a fantasy realm, an epic quest and a fight between good and evil.
I fell in love with Becka from the first chapter. Elyse created enough suspense to keep me reading to find out the “whys” uncovered in the first chapter. After some trauma and suspense, we are introduced to the second main character Ryandru. It turns out that the two of them are from very different backgrounds but have many similarities as well.
The book moves along quickly which will help more reluctant readers keep reading.
I am hoping that there is a book two with these characters as the book ends with that possibility. I would love to read more about these characters.
On Hidden Wings would make a wonderful addition to a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for older elementary-aged students and up.
I received a complimentary copy of On Hidden Wings. This is my honest review.
I fell in love with Becka from the first chapter. Elyse created enough suspense to keep me reading to find out the “whys” uncovered in the first chapter. After some trauma and suspense, we are introduced to the second main character Ryandru. It turns out that the two of them are from very different backgrounds but have many similarities as well.
The book moves along quickly which will help more reluctant readers keep reading.
I am hoping that there is a book two with these characters as the book ends with that possibility. I would love to read more about these characters.
On Hidden Wings would make a wonderful addition to a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for older elementary-aged students and up.
I received a complimentary copy of On Hidden Wings. This is my honest review.
March 16, 2025
This book caught my attention after I saw it won a Realm Award for the best Middle Grade book of 2024. After reading the blurb, I was fully intrigued and snagged a copy.
Finding a book filled with centaurs, seraphs, minotaurs, fauns, pegasus, and griffins was a dream come true. It was the book I would have dearly loved as a young teen, but I loved it just as much as a mother of teens.
The themes of friendship, family loyalty, and extreme bravery to face the odds were extremely compelling. The magic system of their shape-shifting abilities, their secret way of communicating with one another, and the political climate in their kingdom kept me fully engaged as I sped through the pages.
My favorite part was the faith themes woven throughout, as the main character's faith in the Lifegiver shone brightly for all to see. The poignant message of embracing who you are created to be was so endearing.
I can't recommend this book enough! I've been shouting about it from the rooftops ever since I finished it. Get this book for fantasy readers of all ages. They will love it! I could see this being a great family read-aloud, too.
Finding a book filled with centaurs, seraphs, minotaurs, fauns, pegasus, and griffins was a dream come true. It was the book I would have dearly loved as a young teen, but I loved it just as much as a mother of teens.
The themes of friendship, family loyalty, and extreme bravery to face the odds were extremely compelling. The magic system of their shape-shifting abilities, their secret way of communicating with one another, and the political climate in their kingdom kept me fully engaged as I sped through the pages.
My favorite part was the faith themes woven throughout, as the main character's faith in the Lifegiver shone brightly for all to see. The poignant message of embracing who you are created to be was so endearing.
I can't recommend this book enough! I've been shouting about it from the rooftops ever since I finished it. Get this book for fantasy readers of all ages. They will love it! I could see this being a great family read-aloud, too.
December 20, 2023
This fun fantasy adventure is perfect for middle grade readers! (and the young at heart)
Becka is a lovable and relatable protagonist. As a winged centaur, she struggles to find her place in a very rigid and divided world. This is a lovely coming of age story, and I hope we won't have to wait long to see more of Becka and her world.
The unusual magical abilities of the dynamics makes for some fascinating adventures and interactions.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you're looking for a charming fantasy read to curl up with, or share with a young adult, don't miss On Hidden Wings.
I received an advanced review copy of On Hidden Wings but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Becka is a lovable and relatable protagonist. As a winged centaur, she struggles to find her place in a very rigid and divided world. This is a lovely coming of age story, and I hope we won't have to wait long to see more of Becka and her world.
The unusual magical abilities of the dynamics makes for some fascinating adventures and interactions.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you're looking for a charming fantasy read to curl up with, or share with a young adult, don't miss On Hidden Wings.
I received an advanced review copy of On Hidden Wings but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
January 8, 2024
I plowed through this rich story in three days. It features warm, heartfelt characters in a well-developed fantasy world. While the characters are racial outcasts, they didn't read like victims, which was refreshing. I loved the shapeshifting gifts, and all the different races and variations of forms were so creative and fun. The limitations on their powers created tangible tension. The author took the time to really develop the world, history, and magic. I also enjoyed the nuggets of truth placed just so in the plot: reminders to keep faith and trust in "the Lifegiver's" plan. Well done and completely safe for all ages to read.
May 4, 2024
What an engaging story. On Hidden Wings is ideal for the young adult fantasy lover! It is full of adventure, mystery, a well-thought out plot, and symbolism to discover. As a former teacher, reading this put me right back in the teacher's chair, hungry to guide student thinking. But non teachers and adults will also love this story. So well done with amazing imagery, character and plot development and a satisfying ending to boot! I highly recommend it.
June 21, 2024
This is a great young adult fantasy story. The two main characters feel well written and fleshed out. The magic system and world building is light but still interesting. It’s fast paced so you won’t be bored. I do hope for a sequel! I would like to see more of this world and see it go deeper into how the magic and dynamics work. Overall I’d recommend this young readers and adults, it’s a fun read.
July 11, 2024
TL:DR Read if you love adventure.
Book Club.
My Pick.
Read if:
- You like fantasy.
- You like Royal intrigue
- You like new worlds
- You like adventure
This is an excellent story. It was one of the rare times when we all liked the book (4/7 attended). It moves at a steady pace from the beginning with excellent characters. I enjoyed the balance of powers and how the characters slowly got to know each other.
Book Club.
My Pick.
Read if:
- You like fantasy.
- You like Royal intrigue
- You like new worlds
- You like adventure
This is an excellent story. It was one of the rare times when we all liked the book (4/7 attended). It moves at a steady pace from the beginning with excellent characters. I enjoyed the balance of powers and how the characters slowly got to know each other.
November 30, 2023
I love this book! Though written for middle-grade kids, I became immersed in the story immediately. The writing is beautiful, and the characters pulled me in. On Hidden Wings is clean fantasy with deep themes that will inspire a young reader. I can see this becoming a favorite with my children.
I received a complimentary copy of the book, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
I received a complimentary copy of the book, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
November 30, 2025
What a high-flying adventure! I wish this book was a part of a series because I'd love to live in the world longer. It's been on my TBR for quite some time, and I see now why it won the Realm Award. If you enjoy clean fantasy, pick this one up. It read a little more YA than MG, but whatever the category, it was a lot of fun.
January 1, 2025
A fun middle grade Christian fantasy.
May 25, 2025
3.5 stars
Cute story about friendship and the dangers of labeling groups as "other".
Cute story about friendship and the dangers of labeling groups as "other".
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews