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Tessa Miyata #2
Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky
In this thrilling new adventure, Tessa Miyata and her best friend Jin must battle the gods... and win. With magic abound and stakes higher than ever, this is a perfect pick for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers! After her first adventure in Tokyo, Tessa Miyata is having the best summer of her life with her best friend, Jin. Still, she wonders if she'll ever see Kit, the mythical Unlucky God that Tessa and Jin freed, or the last magical city again.
Then, Tessa and Jin get magical, talking invitations informing them that they've been chosen to attend the Academy of Gods– to battle immortals on behalf of the Unlucky God! Win, and they'll be given the gift of immortality. Lose, and they'll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist. Tessa and Jin may be God Blessed, but they’re mortals amongst gods... Can they defeat the other clans? or will they lose Kit forever?
Then, Tessa and Jin get magical, talking invitations informing them that they've been chosen to attend the Academy of Gods– to battle immortals on behalf of the Unlucky God! Win, and they'll be given the gift of immortality. Lose, and they'll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist. Tessa and Jin may be God Blessed, but they’re mortals amongst gods... Can they defeat the other clans? or will they lose Kit forever?
377 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2024
9 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Julie Abe
8 books598 followersJulie Abe is the author of the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. She has lived in Silicon Valley, spent many humid summers in Japan, and currently basks in the sunshine of Southern California with never enough books or tea, where she creates stories about magical adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
2024
October 3, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
July 22, 2025
I loved Tessa Miyata is No Hero a whole lot! So, it’s no surprise that I was eager to finally read the sequel Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky. I’ve come to expect certain hallmarks from Julie Abe’s work: charming and vibrant characters who are easy to love; an interesting world that often weaves magic (and the ensuing mayhem) and myth into the regular every day; adventurous, fun plots that often explore and test character relationship dynamics; and themes that are interesting no matter what age group a reader may be in. And this sequel absolutely delivered on all fronts!
Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky is, much like its predecessor, a lot of fun to read since Tessa, Jin and some faces both familiar and new embark on an entirely new adventure. The book has such a great set-up (It’s a tournament! And I’ve said it many times, but I love a tournament or competition in books), and readers are treated to more new magic – in terms of the setting and the abilities showcased on page. There are new allies (I loved Mimi in particular; her commentary always made me laugh and I, of course, love her love for cats) and new enemies, and many high stakes scenarios to face and presumably overcome. It was an entertaining tale, to be sure, but it also hit some new emotional beats, namely teamwork, friendship and coming into your true power by embracing the things that make you unique.
The one little itty-bitty detail that I didn’t necessarily love had to do with the ending (even if I could understand the choice made). But that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky! It’s a great addition to this middle grade fantasy series, especially for fellow readers who fell in love with Tessa and Jin in the first book.
Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky is, much like its predecessor, a lot of fun to read since Tessa, Jin and some faces both familiar and new embark on an entirely new adventure. The book has such a great set-up (It’s a tournament! And I’ve said it many times, but I love a tournament or competition in books), and readers are treated to more new magic – in terms of the setting and the abilities showcased on page. There are new allies (I loved Mimi in particular; her commentary always made me laugh and I, of course, love her love for cats) and new enemies, and many high stakes scenarios to face and presumably overcome. It was an entertaining tale, to be sure, but it also hit some new emotional beats, namely teamwork, friendship and coming into your true power by embracing the things that make you unique.
The one little itty-bitty detail that I didn’t necessarily love had to do with the ending (even if I could understand the choice made). But that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky! It’s a great addition to this middle grade fantasy series, especially for fellow readers who fell in love with Tessa and Jin in the first book.
September 29, 2024
rep: japanese
when tessa and jin heard that kit might be thrown out of godhood during the competition amongst gods, they decided to join the academy of the gods on behalf of kit, the unlucky god. meanwhile, the secretive group called the god hunters, whose goal is to separate the gods and the mortals, are back.
tessa noticed differences in kit. he no longer is the mischievous fox that she used to know. with his godhood and four clan members dedicated to win for him, kit is treating this with the most severity. he couldn’t let anyone down. as they trained for the competitions, tessa and jin became closer to their clan mates, hachi and mimi. hachi didn’t believe that the unlucky clan would be able to achieve anything and mimi, just wanted something new and refreshing as a minor god. the four will face multiple challenges together.
overall, it was a fun instalment to the series. the ending was bitter and i don’t even know how things will continue from now on. it’s going to be hard for everything involved in the future novels.
when tessa and jin heard that kit might be thrown out of godhood during the competition amongst gods, they decided to join the academy of the gods on behalf of kit, the unlucky god. meanwhile, the secretive group called the god hunters, whose goal is to separate the gods and the mortals, are back.
tessa noticed differences in kit. he no longer is the mischievous fox that she used to know. with his godhood and four clan members dedicated to win for him, kit is treating this with the most severity. he couldn’t let anyone down. as they trained for the competitions, tessa and jin became closer to their clan mates, hachi and mimi. hachi didn’t believe that the unlucky clan would be able to achieve anything and mimi, just wanted something new and refreshing as a minor god. the four will face multiple challenges together.
overall, it was a fun instalment to the series. the ending was bitter and i don’t even know how things will continue from now on. it’s going to be hard for everything involved in the future novels.
August 14, 2024
this book was my fave out of the two in the series, i felt it was more action and suspense. Tessa and Jin team up with two others to fight for the unlucky god, and go through five challenges to compete in the cycle. For the winning clan, all members will be elevated in rank. The losing clan will have their head god replaced. I really loved it and highly recommend!
May 15, 2024
Tessa and Jin are enjoying their summer in Japan going to festivals and eating ice cream daily, but when messengers arrive to invite them to the Cycle, a competition in the city of the gods, they find themselves in a fight that means if they win they could become immortals themselves, but if they lose it means that Kit will disappear forever.
I loved Tessa, Jin, and Kit’s friendship in book one, and the new characters are excellent additions to their friend group. Tora and Ryu are so cute, origami guardians spirits that help Tessa and Jin throughout their training in thr Academy of the Gods. Mimi was such an inspiration: a powerful minor god who realized early on that winning isn’t all its cracked up to be and being true to yourself and your dreams is more important. Hachi, who likes to talk big, was the most insecure of them all, afraid to live up to his family’s expectations. I think all of them have qualities that everyone can identify with.
The Cycle itself was rather brutal, and ups the stakes from the first book. Not only are the gods lives at stake, but the contestants as well. Then adding the complications of the God Hunters just made it worse. I expected they would be behind some sort of sabotage during the competition but the twist at the end had me gasping (Jin!!!!).
Even though Tessa was devastated by the end she still rallied to fight and protect Kit and her new friends. I think this shows a great sense of maturity from book one Tessa. Its always great to see your favorite characters grow and thrive as the series continues. I cannot wait to see what Julie Abe has in store for them in the future.
I loved Tessa, Jin, and Kit’s friendship in book one, and the new characters are excellent additions to their friend group. Tora and Ryu are so cute, origami guardians spirits that help Tessa and Jin throughout their training in thr Academy of the Gods. Mimi was such an inspiration: a powerful minor god who realized early on that winning isn’t all its cracked up to be and being true to yourself and your dreams is more important. Hachi, who likes to talk big, was the most insecure of them all, afraid to live up to his family’s expectations. I think all of them have qualities that everyone can identify with.
The Cycle itself was rather brutal, and ups the stakes from the first book. Not only are the gods lives at stake, but the contestants as well. Then adding the complications of the God Hunters just made it worse. I expected they would be behind some sort of sabotage during the competition but the twist at the end had me gasping (Jin!!!!).
Even though Tessa was devastated by the end she still rallied to fight and protect Kit and her new friends. I think this shows a great sense of maturity from book one Tessa. Its always great to see your favorite characters grow and thrive as the series continues. I cannot wait to see what Julie Abe has in store for them in the future.
December 19, 2024
This book was…ok. There was some repetition when there didn’t need to be and thus contributed to the unnecessary length in some ways. But what really got me were the character choices.
*Spoilers ahead*
Jin made a decision that frustrated me to no end. It felt like the arc was leading to something but then, all of a sudden, it falls flat on its face. Because instead of doing the hard thing and putting in effort, he decides to throw away all the progress he’s made as a character and take the easy way out. Then they just move past it. As if life proceeds as normal almost and all problems are solved.
I thought these kids were smarter than that. That they could tell when a grown-up is clearly lying to them. But the whole climactic scene just left me so confused. The villain made no sense, Jin’s decision made no sense from an arc standpoint, and I just… yeah…
So I enjoyed it because I enjoy Tessa and I especially enjoy the new characters. But was I endeared to Jin in any way after this book? No, not at all.
*Spoilers ahead*
Jin made a decision that frustrated me to no end. It felt like the arc was leading to something but then, all of a sudden, it falls flat on its face. Because instead of doing the hard thing and putting in effort, he decides to throw away all the progress he’s made as a character and take the easy way out. Then they just move past it. As if life proceeds as normal almost and all problems are solved.
I thought these kids were smarter than that. That they could tell when a grown-up is clearly lying to them. But the whole climactic scene just left me so confused. The villain made no sense, Jin’s decision made no sense from an arc standpoint, and I just… yeah…
So I enjoyed it because I enjoy Tessa and I especially enjoy the new characters. But was I endeared to Jin in any way after this book? No, not at all.
December 5, 2024
4.3 I love the titles in this series
September 16, 2024
What worked:
The book is immersed in Japanese culture and the author includes several sections of information before the story even starts. They include a map, a description of the “magical side of Japan”, vocabulary for the magical and real worlds, and a brief recap of events from the previous book. The recap is told by a character since he’s heard “mortal minds are forgetful” and we might not remember earlier events. The author takes the time to make readers comfortable with the plot even if they haven’t read the previous book. The story moves back and forth between the godly and human worlds as the characters compete in an immortal competition.
The cast of characters is a unique blend of mortals and immortals competing as “equals”. Tessa and her best friend Jin are the only mortals competing in the first Cycle in four hundred years. They are teamed with a minor god named Mimi and a minor spirit named Hachi. Mimi has a refreshing view of winning that contrasts with Hachi’s need to please his father. Tessa and Jin are God-blessed and they’ve entered the competition to save the Unlucky God named Kit. These three characters teamed up in the previous book but Kit will be demoted and transformed to ether if his team loses. The other seven teams of immortals have no respect for mortals and they combine their efforts to make sure Kit’s team is eliminated. This sets the stage for an exciting underdog story.
An underlying plot revolves around a secret group of rebels called the God Hunters. They want a separation between gods and the mortal world. Most of the immortals don’t believe the God Hunters exist but readers will suspect strange happenings during the Cycle must be connected to them. The immortals can’t explain why some competitors disappear for short times or temporarily lose their abilities during the competition. More information about the rebels is shared later in the book and the author presents a huge twist with one of the characters that will surely affect the next book in the series.
What didn’t work as well:
The author includes Japanese terms in the story but their meanings aren’t always clear from the context. Readers can utilize the glossaries found at the beginning of the book but the confusing vocabulary words might not be there.
The final verdict:
Tessa’s group epitomizes teamwork and support for each other as they struggle to save Kit. It’s admirable that Tessa is the team leader even though two of her team members have immortal powers. The book will appeal to lovers of folklore and Japan and I recommend you give it a shot!
The book is immersed in Japanese culture and the author includes several sections of information before the story even starts. They include a map, a description of the “magical side of Japan”, vocabulary for the magical and real worlds, and a brief recap of events from the previous book. The recap is told by a character since he’s heard “mortal minds are forgetful” and we might not remember earlier events. The author takes the time to make readers comfortable with the plot even if they haven’t read the previous book. The story moves back and forth between the godly and human worlds as the characters compete in an immortal competition.
The cast of characters is a unique blend of mortals and immortals competing as “equals”. Tessa and her best friend Jin are the only mortals competing in the first Cycle in four hundred years. They are teamed with a minor god named Mimi and a minor spirit named Hachi. Mimi has a refreshing view of winning that contrasts with Hachi’s need to please his father. Tessa and Jin are God-blessed and they’ve entered the competition to save the Unlucky God named Kit. These three characters teamed up in the previous book but Kit will be demoted and transformed to ether if his team loses. The other seven teams of immortals have no respect for mortals and they combine their efforts to make sure Kit’s team is eliminated. This sets the stage for an exciting underdog story.
An underlying plot revolves around a secret group of rebels called the God Hunters. They want a separation between gods and the mortal world. Most of the immortals don’t believe the God Hunters exist but readers will suspect strange happenings during the Cycle must be connected to them. The immortals can’t explain why some competitors disappear for short times or temporarily lose their abilities during the competition. More information about the rebels is shared later in the book and the author presents a huge twist with one of the characters that will surely affect the next book in the series.
What didn’t work as well:
The author includes Japanese terms in the story but their meanings aren’t always clear from the context. Readers can utilize the glossaries found at the beginning of the book but the confusing vocabulary words might not be there.
The final verdict:
Tessa’s group epitomizes teamwork and support for each other as they struggle to save Kit. It’s admirable that Tessa is the team leader even though two of her team members have immortal powers. The book will appeal to lovers of folklore and Japan and I recommend you give it a shot!
February 10, 2025
Audiobook + Physical
Adventurous and magical! Tessa and Jin are invited to attend the Academy of the Gods where they will participate in a competition on behalf of Kit, the Unlucky God. If they win they could become immortals. However if they lose, they will forget everything about the Gods and the magical city, and Kit will disappear and be replaced by someone else.
This story had a lot of heart. It is about friendships, expectations, and being true to yourself. In this novel we really see a growth in Tessa's character. She still has her insecurities, but instead of dwelling in them, I love her determination in finding ways to overcome them. We also get to meet two new characters, Mimi, a minor god, and Hachi, a minor spirit. Personality wise they kind of remind me of Mitsuri Kanroji and Zenitsu Agatsuma, respectively, from Demon Slayer . They were a great addition to the story. They showed that even immortals have their struggles, fears, and uncertainties. However, I was kind of disappointed in Jin's character. Don't get me wrong, I love how loyal and sincere he is, but I wanted a little bit more from him. Compared to the others, he just felt very one dimensional.
The twist towards the end was very unexpected. It was definitely sad, but at the same time I kind of felt it came out of no where. I wish there would have been more of a build up to the reveal. However, I did like the theme of fate vs destiny. I think it would be very interesting to see where the author goes with this story. Overall I am really enjoying this series. Can't wait for the next book!
Adventurous and magical! Tessa and Jin are invited to attend the Academy of the Gods where they will participate in a competition on behalf of Kit, the Unlucky God. If they win they could become immortals. However if they lose, they will forget everything about the Gods and the magical city, and Kit will disappear and be replaced by someone else.
This story had a lot of heart. It is about friendships, expectations, and being true to yourself. In this novel we really see a growth in Tessa's character. She still has her insecurities, but instead of dwelling in them, I love her determination in finding ways to overcome them. We also get to meet two new characters, Mimi, a minor god, and Hachi, a minor spirit. Personality wise they kind of remind me of Mitsuri Kanroji and Zenitsu Agatsuma, respectively, from Demon Slayer . They were a great addition to the story. They showed that even immortals have their struggles, fears, and uncertainties. However, I was kind of disappointed in Jin's character. Don't get me wrong, I love how loyal and sincere he is, but I wanted a little bit more from him. Compared to the others, he just felt very one dimensional.
The twist towards the end was very unexpected. It was definitely sad, but at the same time I kind of felt it came out of no where. I wish there would have been more of a build up to the reveal. However, I did like the theme of fate vs destiny. I think it would be very interesting to see where the author goes with this story. Overall I am really enjoying this series. Can't wait for the next book!
August 3, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky is a solid follow-up to last year’s Tessa Miyata Is No Hero. I love how it builds on the lore from the first book, and also develops the characters and their relationships in a beautiful way.
Tessa and her friends Jin and Kit are joined this time around by new additions, Tora and Ryu, who are guardian spirits who are meant to help with Tessa and Jin’s training at the Academy of the Gods. It was great getting to know these new characters and how they got along with the ones we already know and love. Tessa’s own growth is also wonderful, as while she faced trials and tribulations, she still tried her best to protect her friends.
I enjoyed the almost-episodic feel, with the story split into parts, with each one oriented around the various challenges Tessa and her friends face at the magic academy. There’s a lot of action and excitement that kept me engaged and flipping pages throughout.
This was a great sequel, and I’d recommend this series to readers looking for a fun middle grade fantasy.
Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky is a solid follow-up to last year’s Tessa Miyata Is No Hero. I love how it builds on the lore from the first book, and also develops the characters and their relationships in a beautiful way.
Tessa and her friends Jin and Kit are joined this time around by new additions, Tora and Ryu, who are guardian spirits who are meant to help with Tessa and Jin’s training at the Academy of the Gods. It was great getting to know these new characters and how they got along with the ones we already know and love. Tessa’s own growth is also wonderful, as while she faced trials and tribulations, she still tried her best to protect her friends.
I enjoyed the almost-episodic feel, with the story split into parts, with each one oriented around the various challenges Tessa and her friends face at the magic academy. There’s a lot of action and excitement that kept me engaged and flipping pages throughout.
This was a great sequel, and I’d recommend this series to readers looking for a fun middle grade fantasy.
October 6, 2024
Prefacing this with the statement: This one HURT me. I'm a sucker for training arcs in anime and the like, tournaments/trials, and twists I didn't expect. This book had them all mixed with the iconic figures within the mythology and lore of Japan.
Welcome back to a summer of new adventures with Tessa Miyata and her best friend, Jin. One day, they get an invitation of the life time, a letter stating that they have been selected to attend the Academy of the Gods. If they are granted entry to their chosen god's clan, they have the chance to battle on the behalf of their god or goddess. Those who win will have their ranks elevated but as in the tale of the 7 god cycle, the losing god will be replaced.
The stakes couldn't be higher as Tessa strives to train and win so that she will always remember her time in the magical city, her friends, and of course protect the Unlucky god from disappearing.
Welcome back to a summer of new adventures with Tessa Miyata and her best friend, Jin. One day, they get an invitation of the life time, a letter stating that they have been selected to attend the Academy of the Gods. If they are granted entry to their chosen god's clan, they have the chance to battle on the behalf of their god or goddess. Those who win will have their ranks elevated but as in the tale of the 7 god cycle, the losing god will be replaced.
The stakes couldn't be higher as Tessa strives to train and win so that she will always remember her time in the magical city, her friends, and of course protect the Unlucky god from disappearing.
November 25, 2024
I need there to be a third book.
(Cue lots of internal screaming.)
I loved this book, as I have with all of Julie Abe’s middle grade works. And I fully expected to get emotional, like I did in the second Eva Evergreen book. I did. But yikes and yakult, that ending! (Cue more screaming.) I really, really, really hope there’s going to be a third book.
Anyways, moving on, I loved the characters. I loved seeing Tessa, Jin, and Kit again, and also meeting Mimi and Hachi. They had really nice arcs and were really fun characters.
I think tournament arcs can be really fun, and I quite enjoyed this one. We had great character development and some exploration of the magic.
Also, the illustrations were gorgeous.
I absolutely loved this book, despite my emotional distress, and will be waiting (somewhat) patiently for whatever Julie Abe releases next.
(Cue lots of internal screaming.)
I loved this book, as I have with all of Julie Abe’s middle grade works. And I fully expected to get emotional, like I did in the second Eva Evergreen book. I did. But yikes and yakult, that ending! (Cue more screaming.) I really, really, really hope there’s going to be a third book.
Anyways, moving on, I loved the characters. I loved seeing Tessa, Jin, and Kit again, and also meeting Mimi and Hachi. They had really nice arcs and were really fun characters.
I think tournament arcs can be really fun, and I quite enjoyed this one. We had great character development and some exploration of the magic.
Also, the illustrations were gorgeous.
I absolutely loved this book, despite my emotional distress, and will be waiting (somewhat) patiently for whatever Julie Abe releases next.
November 12, 2024
Another great adventure for Tessa and Jin as they return to the spirit realm to participate in a clan battle that results in a God being replaced. Tessa and Jin are joined by Hachi and Mimi to fight for Kit’s right to remain in the city.
The story was full of adventure and escalating danger (nothing very scary) plus the clan mates are tested in ways they were not expecting.
Very much enjoyed the story and I can’t wait till the next book is released (I am crossing fingers and toes book 3 is on its way).
The story was full of adventure and escalating danger (nothing very scary) plus the clan mates are tested in ways they were not expecting.
Very much enjoyed the story and I can’t wait till the next book is released (I am crossing fingers and toes book 3 is on its way).
November 22, 2024
This story was so much fun to read. Tessa Miyata, as our narrator, walks us through a magical world that has twists and turns. All around, this was uplifting and cozy to read, while also providing the right amount of tension for the many, many battle scenes that the plot utilizes. I am in desperate need of the third book.
April 29, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I enjoyed the fact that Tessa and Jin became good friends. Of course they get magical powers and get invited to a magical school. That's always fun for middle grade readers, but why are there no books about teachers at magical schools? This is a good choice if culturally connected fantasy novels circulate well in your middle school library.
I enjoyed the fact that Tessa and Jin became good friends. Of course they get magical powers and get invited to a magical school. That's always fun for middle grade readers, but why are there no books about teachers at magical schools? This is a good choice if culturally connected fantasy novels circulate well in your middle school library.
August 27, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This is one of my favorite series and was excited to see what was in store for Tessa and her friends in this book. You’ve got action and adventure along with trying to be true to yourself and finding your own way, even if doesn’t align with what others think you should be doing.
December 3, 2025
I thought this book was SO GOOD!!I like how much character development happened and how Which ever clan closes,there head clan would be replaced!!!!I really hope that their will be a book 3 even if it may be hard to firgure out how to!!Overall amazing book and I loved it so so so much!!!!
September 16, 2024
Will there be book three? I want to know what happens to GH and Jin. My fave character is Mimi.
March 5, 2025
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book 2 even more than book 1!
March 18, 2025
🥹 need more of Tessa and Jin 🙏
April 30, 2025
This is a brilliant sequel for Tessa Miyata.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews