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Beyond Mulberry Glen
Eleven-year-old Lydia Green doesn’t want anything to change. She lives happily in Mulberry Glen with her mismatched family of a fairy guardian, a philosopher, and twin troublemakers known as the Zs. But now, rumors swirl about The Darkness, a powerful force that dwells in the forest Tenebrae.
Lydia knows The Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, but when a foolish choice by the Zs puts her family in danger, she must leave home and face the strange magical world of The Valleylands.
Among the shifting library shelves and new friends of her quest, Lydia uncovers more questions than answers, and the Darkness begins to creep into her mind. If she wants to save her family, she will have to be braver than ever before.
Lydia knows The Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, but when a foolish choice by the Zs puts her family in danger, she must leave home and face the strange magical world of The Valleylands.
Among the shifting library shelves and new friends of her quest, Lydia uncovers more questions than answers, and the Darkness begins to creep into her mind. If she wants to save her family, she will have to be braver than ever before.
Audible Audio
First published January 6, 2025
68 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
Millie Florence
8 books326 followersMillie Florence’s earliest memories are of lying under the covers at night, whispering stories to herself long after her parents had told her to go to sleep. She published her first book, ‘Honey Butter’, at age 13 and hasn’t stopped since!
Millie lives in a picturesque blue house in the woods of southern Illinois. She loves adventure, good food, and just about all things yellow.
Millie lives in a picturesque blue house in the woods of southern Illinois. She loves adventure, good food, and just about all things yellow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
January 8, 2025
It's release day! This beautiful book is finally out in the world for all of you to read! Welcome to Mulberry Glen. ✨🌻
November 22, 2024
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Millie Florence's latest book, and I think this story will definitely appeal to fantasy readers who love beautifully crafted tales with whimsical worldbuilding and tons of lovable characters to root for. I was already a big fan of Millie's from her sweet MG novel "Honey Butter," and I loved the old-fashioned style in this book as well, along with the happy ending! It's already available to pre-order, so go check it out!
October 21, 2025
4.5 ★ - (loved it, favorite!)
"Light spilled through the window of the cottage in the glen wall, like hot chamomile tea pouring from the spout of a teapot, melting her fear like sugar."
{Reviewed October 9th, 2024} ❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
~ Note: I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher (Thank you to Waxwing Books and NetGalley!) in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own. ~
Spectacular!! This is one of the best pieces of middle grade fiction I've picked up in recent years and the first book I've read by the author. To say I'm impressed would be an understatement! Great worldbuilding (it was all so fascinating and prettyyy), heartfelt characters, a bit of Lord of the Rings vibes, the use of Latin, herbology references (like arnica oil which was a delightful surprise as my mom uses homeopathy XD), subtle biblical themes... the prose?!! And the very best of autumnal feels!!! All of this bundled together made it a super fun read. There are sooo many favorite quotes tucked in this one little book, too many to fit them all in a review I'm afraid, but these are some of my very favorites, as well as the one at the beginning of this review, hehe:
{It was usually a quiet village, tucked into the edge of the woods like a bookmark tucked between the pages of a book,}
{Evening came. The sun sank low in the sky like a golden ship sinking to the bottom of a watercolor sea.}
{“I only speak in poetry. It is the universal truth of art. Anything can be art; it just might be bad art. A poem is art. Therefore, anything can be a poem if you say it is—it just might be a bad poem.”}
{It was as if the moon had lost hold of its paintbox, and the colors had splashed over the canvas of the heavens.}
{“All the things of the world cannot fill an empty heart,” Lydia whispered aloud. “But this light is not of the world.”}
And oh, the characters!!! Bravest Lydia, golden-retriever Livy, sharp Prehna, quiet Coran, kind Mrs. Castra, hilarious Quill, sweetest Terra, wise Pit— so many favorites! And I also liked the philosopher and the Z's though their antics got way out of hand, haha!
The second-guessing of characters and some of the twists at the end kept me on my toes; I didn't see some of the things coming even, which I don't often find in a middle grade. And I teared up over Coran recounting to Lydia that he was reunited as well as over Terra listening to Lydia confide in her ahhhh.
Which brings me to another point, the Darkness plot(?) was not only interesting but rather relatable. A lot of it reminded me of some of the things I've struggled with personally in my thoughts so I really connected with that, particularly in Lydia and Terra. It's a really good depiction of the battle of the mind and that, though things may sometimes resurface a little, it doesn't have to control you when you have the Light. And I should add, some of the Darkness bits may be a bit scary for sensitive readers so I'd recommend double checking some of the other reviews and the content warnings below before letting them read :)
I think there could have been a tad more buildup/picking-up-of-the-pace before the climax as the adventure meandered most of the story (which I really enjoyed) until it suddenly hit the summit, which actually the surprise works too, though my initial thought was it could have been a little more nuanced(?)... anywho. I do wish my eARC had included the illustrations mentioned! I know they must be gorgeous telling from the cover, the map, and the illustrator's other work which I discovered earlier this year. (update: I've purchased a physical copy and the book is beautiful, lovely hardcover with a gold-foiled dust jacket and little illustrations at the beginning of chapters!!!)
That 'twas a lot of rambling ahahah but I suppose it shows how much I enjoyed this book! So. In conclusion? A charming fairytale destined to delight readers of all ages, this is one I'll be adding to my shelves!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Recommended for readers who love: found family, autumn, cozy fantasy. Similar to ?? Set in ? Feels most like-autumn-in which the story takes place🍁
***Content Warnings, or things that caught my attention: mentions/descriptions of nightmares, darkness taking over minds (sometimes seems like depression?), short descriptions of creepy beasts, lying, running away, "Oh, chamomile!" is used several times and a couple of variations elsewhere, eavesdropping, getting lost... I believe that was it?
All thoughts are my own!
"Light spilled through the window of the cottage in the glen wall, like hot chamomile tea pouring from the spout of a teapot, melting her fear like sugar."
{Reviewed October 9th, 2024} ❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
~ Note: I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher (Thank you to Waxwing Books and NetGalley!) in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own. ~
Spectacular!! This is one of the best pieces of middle grade fiction I've picked up in recent years and the first book I've read by the author. To say I'm impressed would be an understatement! Great worldbuilding (it was all so fascinating and prettyyy), heartfelt characters, a bit of Lord of the Rings vibes, the use of Latin, herbology references (like arnica oil which was a delightful surprise as my mom uses homeopathy XD), subtle biblical themes... the prose?!! And the very best of autumnal feels!!! All of this bundled together made it a super fun read. There are sooo many favorite quotes tucked in this one little book, too many to fit them all in a review I'm afraid, but these are some of my very favorites, as well as the one at the beginning of this review, hehe:
{It was usually a quiet village, tucked into the edge of the woods like a bookmark tucked between the pages of a book,}
{Evening came. The sun sank low in the sky like a golden ship sinking to the bottom of a watercolor sea.}
{“I only speak in poetry. It is the universal truth of art. Anything can be art; it just might be bad art. A poem is art. Therefore, anything can be a poem if you say it is—it just might be a bad poem.”}
{It was as if the moon had lost hold of its paintbox, and the colors had splashed over the canvas of the heavens.}
{“All the things of the world cannot fill an empty heart,” Lydia whispered aloud. “But this light is not of the world.”}
And oh, the characters!!! Bravest Lydia, golden-retriever Livy, sharp Prehna, quiet Coran, kind Mrs. Castra, hilarious Quill, sweetest Terra, wise Pit— so many favorites! And I also liked the philosopher and the Z's though their antics got way out of hand, haha!
The second-guessing of characters and some of the twists at the end kept me on my toes; I didn't see some of the things coming even, which I don't often find in a middle grade. And I teared up over Coran recounting to Lydia that he was reunited as well as over Terra listening to Lydia confide in her ahhhh.
Which brings me to another point, the Darkness plot(?) was not only interesting but rather relatable. A lot of it reminded me of some of the things I've struggled with personally in my thoughts so I really connected with that, particularly in Lydia and Terra. It's a really good depiction of the battle of the mind and that, though things may sometimes resurface a little, it doesn't have to control you when you have the Light. And I should add, some of the Darkness bits may be a bit scary for sensitive readers so I'd recommend double checking some of the other reviews and the content warnings below before letting them read :)
I think there could have been a tad more buildup/picking-up-of-the-pace before the climax as the adventure meandered most of the story (which I really enjoyed) until it suddenly hit the summit, which actually the surprise works too, though my initial thought was it could have been a little more nuanced(?)... anywho. I do wish my eARC had included the illustrations mentioned! I know they must be gorgeous telling from the cover, the map, and the illustrator's other work which I discovered earlier this year. (update: I've purchased a physical copy and the book is beautiful, lovely hardcover with a gold-foiled dust jacket and little illustrations at the beginning of chapters!!!)
That 'twas a lot of rambling ahahah but I suppose it shows how much I enjoyed this book! So. In conclusion? A charming fairytale destined to delight readers of all ages, this is one I'll be adding to my shelves!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Recommended for readers who love: found family, autumn, cozy fantasy. Similar to ?? Set in ? Feels most like-autumn-in which the story takes place🍁
***Content Warnings, or things that caught my attention: mentions/descriptions of nightmares, darkness taking over minds (sometimes seems like depression?), short descriptions of creepy beasts, lying, running away, "Oh, chamomile!" is used several times and a couple of variations elsewhere, eavesdropping, getting lost... I believe that was it?
All thoughts are my own!
February 10, 2025
Meh. I picked this one up because I saw it was highly recommended by Read Aloud Revival. We did it as a family read aloud. To be fair my 10 yr old daughter loved it. My 8 yr old son was in and out. And my 12 yr old son was like “ummmm…..I felt like there wasn’t really a plot.” Which is exactly how I felt about it. It felt like there were no obstacles. Every problem that was presented was briefly presented and then easily and quickly solved. And one aspect that made me laugh was that it also kind of felt like a stereotypical homeschooler’s checklist. Latin, check. Herbal healing, check. Green cloak, check. A ball with fancy dresses, check. Rangers, check. Elves/fairies, check. A giant magical library, check. Zero violence and zero negative character traits, double check. A very “safe” book for any kid to read. If I could turn back time, I’d skip this one and pick something with more depth. But, the nature descriptions were beautiful. They allowed me envision Mulberry Glen and the trees and the Housetree, and made me want to eat the food or drink a cup of herbal tea. So, I’ll give it a couple stars for that.
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April 11, 2025Not rating this one. But I do have opinions. :D
In my circles, this one is getting a lot of support and so I wanted to see what it was like. I started it with high hopes. Initially, it had the taste of a charming read.
But here's my quibble:
As an adult, I prefer to read Middle Grade fiction. I love the genre. A good piece of Middle Grade fiction is soul satisfying to me. But Mulberry Glen wasn't. I felt like it would be a delightful and absolutely lovely read for my 10 year old. It's just her speed and I believe she will love it. The style of the book is perfect for the ages it is marketing to (plus) but not complex or detailed enough to really hold my attention as an adult. To me, that's a downside, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything bad. Personal preference only.
My bigger beef is that it was a moral tale with a heavy handed message. Emphasis was given to the concept of light and darkness, not getting lost, etc. But there wasn't an adequate amount of danger in the book to hide those moral lessons well. Instead of fitting neatly into the tale, I felt like they popped out and glared at you.
I can see some parents absolutely loving this. I am very aware that there is a contingent of Christian parents who want books with super strong moral statements and a lot of talk about Christian principles who will adore this book. I think I read their reviews. :D It's not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but I might argue the sensibility of it. We want Christian books, yes, but we want books without crosses drawn on them to tell us that they are, in fact, Christian. We want subtly, daring do, things not explicitly stated so that we can use our own minds to draw conclusions, etc. We should WANT to be a little scared, a little confused. I'm not looking to be spoon fed and I'm not looking to spoon feed my kids either.
I know I risk sounding so very uncharitable here. I don't want to leave a starred rating because a.) I don't want to mess or play with the rating system and b.) these are my opinions. Every reader is different.
If you DO like very straightforward moral tales with very little to question (i.e., if you like things very safe) then this book is totally for you. It's as safe as safe can be!
In my circles, this one is getting a lot of support and so I wanted to see what it was like. I started it with high hopes. Initially, it had the taste of a charming read.
But here's my quibble:
As an adult, I prefer to read Middle Grade fiction. I love the genre. A good piece of Middle Grade fiction is soul satisfying to me. But Mulberry Glen wasn't. I felt like it would be a delightful and absolutely lovely read for my 10 year old. It's just her speed and I believe she will love it. The style of the book is perfect for the ages it is marketing to (plus) but not complex or detailed enough to really hold my attention as an adult. To me, that's a downside, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything bad. Personal preference only.
My bigger beef is that it was a moral tale with a heavy handed message. Emphasis was given to the concept of light and darkness, not getting lost, etc. But there wasn't an adequate amount of danger in the book to hide those moral lessons well. Instead of fitting neatly into the tale, I felt like they popped out and glared at you.
I can see some parents absolutely loving this. I am very aware that there is a contingent of Christian parents who want books with super strong moral statements and a lot of talk about Christian principles who will adore this book. I think I read their reviews. :D It's not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but I might argue the sensibility of it. We want Christian books, yes, but we want books without crosses drawn on them to tell us that they are, in fact, Christian. We want subtly, daring do, things not explicitly stated so that we can use our own minds to draw conclusions, etc. We should WANT to be a little scared, a little confused. I'm not looking to be spoon fed and I'm not looking to spoon feed my kids either.
I know I risk sounding so very uncharitable here. I don't want to leave a starred rating because a.) I don't want to mess or play with the rating system and b.) these are my opinions. Every reader is different.
If you DO like very straightforward moral tales with very little to question (i.e., if you like things very safe) then this book is totally for you. It's as safe as safe can be!
November 2, 2024
Do you have a kid who hates change? They will understand Lydia. She loves her home in Mulberry Glen, where she lives with a philosopher, a fairy, a cook, and a pair of mischievous twins (a young boy and girl). Why would she ever want to grow up and leave this safe, cozy place?
But, she must. Lydia must start an apprenticeship if she wants to become an herbologist one day. Lydia is like Jo March on the brink of going to New York.
But before Lydia is assigned an apprenticeship, something else happens that forces her to leave even earlier than expected and not on safe, predictable terms.
There is a Darkness that's spreading from the forest of Tenebrae, and rumor has it that the only thing that can vanquish the darkness is a flower called Omni Res Mundi (Latin translation: "everything in the world").
Lydia teams up with some colorful characters to accomplish her mission and (maybe) vanquish the Darkness for good.
There is a great discussion here about what it takes to beat back "the dark." So many of us struggle with dark thoughts, depression, despair—and other people seem to be happy as clams, so why aren't we? How do you stop those dark thoughts from spreading and taking over? This is a timely topic but one that's as old as time.
This book offers an answer to this question, and I agree with the beautiful message. I hope that a lot of kids and young people take it to heart. It's the truth.
To parents of sensitive kids: Even though this book ventures into the darkness, it isn't dark, so approach it without fear.
As someone who isn't familiar with Latin, I hope they include a translation page somewhere in the front or back matter.
Thank you to Waxwing Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this beautiful book.
But, she must. Lydia must start an apprenticeship if she wants to become an herbologist one day. Lydia is like Jo March on the brink of going to New York.
But before Lydia is assigned an apprenticeship, something else happens that forces her to leave even earlier than expected and not on safe, predictable terms.
There is a Darkness that's spreading from the forest of Tenebrae, and rumor has it that the only thing that can vanquish the darkness is a flower called Omni Res Mundi (Latin translation: "everything in the world").
Lydia teams up with some colorful characters to accomplish her mission and (maybe) vanquish the Darkness for good.
There is a great discussion here about what it takes to beat back "the dark." So many of us struggle with dark thoughts, depression, despair—and other people seem to be happy as clams, so why aren't we? How do you stop those dark thoughts from spreading and taking over? This is a timely topic but one that's as old as time.
This book offers an answer to this question, and I agree with the beautiful message. I hope that a lot of kids and young people take it to heart. It's the truth.
To parents of sensitive kids: Even though this book ventures into the darkness, it isn't dark, so approach it without fear.
As someone who isn't familiar with Latin, I hope they include a translation page somewhere in the front or back matter.
Thank you to Waxwing Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this beautiful book.
July 8, 2025
This story was endearing and beautiful, I got a little turned around at a couple of points, but it was still a very beautiful story with a delightful message!
Characters:
Lydia Green is the MC, and she is a very sweet girl who hates change. I loved her! Her struggle with the darkness that sometimes overcame her and the changes in her life was relatable and handled so well with so much care!
Corin was such a nice boy, and I loved him!
The Z's cracked me up! And so did Quill! I loved all the characters as they each took on a life of their own.
Romance:
N/A
Language:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
A character falls over a cliff and gets injured, and a past injury is mentioned. Nothing super detailed, just passed over nicely for kids.
There are a few instances of being chased that might be too scary for littles... like 4 and under, but probably not if a parent were there.
Overall:
This is a great book about what truly overcomes the darkness and madness that sometimes plagues us. A story that shoes it's not something that disappears but something you actively make a decision to fight. That change can be wonderful and that no matter what you think life is always changing.
I got turned around in the beginning because there is a point where it jumps from Mulberry Glen to another location and then backtrack from there to fill you in...I would have rather had the events in order as I got a bit confused and thought my audiobook was missing chapters for a bit.😂
Recommend for a family readaloud or a solo reader age 7+
Characters:
Lydia Green is the MC, and she is a very sweet girl who hates change. I loved her! Her struggle with the darkness that sometimes overcame her and the changes in her life was relatable and handled so well with so much care!
Corin was such a nice boy, and I loved him!
The Z's cracked me up! And so did Quill! I loved all the characters as they each took on a life of their own.
Romance:
N/A
Language:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
A character falls over a cliff and gets injured, and a past injury is mentioned. Nothing super detailed, just passed over nicely for kids.
There are a few instances of being chased that might be too scary for littles... like 4 and under, but probably not if a parent were there.
Overall:
This is a great book about what truly overcomes the darkness and madness that sometimes plagues us. A story that shoes it's not something that disappears but something you actively make a decision to fight. That change can be wonderful and that no matter what you think life is always changing.
I got turned around in the beginning because there is a point where it jumps from Mulberry Glen to another location and then backtrack from there to fill you in...I would have rather had the events in order as I got a bit confused and thought my audiobook was missing chapters for a bit.😂
Recommend for a family readaloud or a solo reader age 7+
January 22, 2025
Ahhhhh omw this was such a sweet read 😭 💖(and the gorgeous illustrations just add to it)
April 7, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.
“The world is just awfully big and complicated. And dark. It seems to be getting bigger and darker all the time. If that’s what growing up is, I don’t want it.”
A lovely allegorical story that deals with a depression-like Darkness and fear of change. It feels very much like classic fantasy with a daring quest and a medieval world. I especially liked the library with its ever-shifting shelves.
“The world is just awfully big and complicated. And dark. It seems to be getting bigger and darker all the time. If that’s what growing up is, I don’t want it.”
A lovely allegorical story that deals with a depression-like Darkness and fear of change. It feels very much like classic fantasy with a daring quest and a medieval world. I especially liked the library with its ever-shifting shelves.
March 6, 2025
I was excited to read the first novel published by Waxwing books. As an RAR premium member, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, this book left a lot to be desired for my whole family and myself. Although this novel was intended for a middle grade audience, it was marketed as a great read aloud for all ages. My kids are nine, seven, and five. My husband was also included in these readings. Being surrounded by people who really want action and a fast moving plot, I felt myself having to skip A LOT of paragraphs (even a whole chapter!!!) to condense this story down so that I wouldn’t lose my people’s interest over the course of a month. The poetic descriptions and similes just didn’t hold up for my crew and we were left wondering if there was a true plot behind all the pretty descriptions and repeated inside thinking in Lydia’s head. This review reminds me of the similar issues I had with another RAR recommendation, Begin (book #1 of the Growly series).
I don’t want this review to be taken as scathing towards this young author. She’s talented and I recognize that. However, I would like to see a focus on the substance of a plot and less on how poetic something sounds. If the premise of reading aloud is to have shared stories and something to discuss and learn, then I would think the plot of a book should be a priority and extremely solid. There were several holes in this plot that my nine year old just couldn’t understand and we all agreed with him.
In the end, not all books will appeal to everyone and I’m sure there are many families enjoying this one. This has taught me to do more homework on our next read aloud to ensure it’s a joy and not something to “get through.”
I don’t want this review to be taken as scathing towards this young author. She’s talented and I recognize that. However, I would like to see a focus on the substance of a plot and less on how poetic something sounds. If the premise of reading aloud is to have shared stories and something to discuss and learn, then I would think the plot of a book should be a priority and extremely solid. There were several holes in this plot that my nine year old just couldn’t understand and we all agreed with him.
In the end, not all books will appeal to everyone and I’m sure there are many families enjoying this one. This has taught me to do more homework on our next read aloud to ensure it’s a joy and not something to “get through.”
January 2, 2025
4 stars. I've read both of Millie's other book. I really enjoyed this one. It's such a whimsical and heartwarming story about change and finding light amidst the darkness complete with magical libraries, latin quotes, and a wonderful cast of characters. I read this story in one day; it was captivating and well written.
I received a free e-arc from Netgalley and Waxwing Books in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free e-arc from Netgalley and Waxwing Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2025
Beautiful.
This book touched a piece of my soul. Vivid prose, heart-felt themes of change and believing in the light, characters full of their own loveable personalities, friendship and home, an imaginative world of mulberry muffins, tea, fairies, ever-changing libraries, a poet hobgoblin, a dark and evil forest, a stubborn and kind herbalist main character and more.
The whimsy reminded me of cottage core vibes and Anne of Green Gables. The allegory aspect reminded me of Narnia.
This is the perfect book for families to read to one another! Even as a 23 year old learning how to live on my own (who is sometimes discouraged by the darkness and scared of change), this lil book gave me courage.
This book touched a piece of my soul. Vivid prose, heart-felt themes of change and believing in the light, characters full of their own loveable personalities, friendship and home, an imaginative world of mulberry muffins, tea, fairies, ever-changing libraries, a poet hobgoblin, a dark and evil forest, a stubborn and kind herbalist main character and more.
The whimsy reminded me of cottage core vibes and Anne of Green Gables. The allegory aspect reminded me of Narnia.
This is the perfect book for families to read to one another! Even as a 23 year old learning how to live on my own (who is sometimes discouraged by the darkness and scared of change), this lil book gave me courage.
December 29, 2025
Ahhhh this is absolutely delightful
Seriously, this book left me with a warm, comfortable feeling after I read it, I felt honored to have the oppurtunity to spend a day in Lydia’s cozy corner of the world.
The world building and characters in this were 👌 (like, come on, the moving library? So cool.)
Millie certainly does not disappoint.
Seriously, this book left me with a warm, comfortable feeling after I read it, I felt honored to have the oppurtunity to spend a day in Lydia’s cozy corner of the world.
The world building and characters in this were 👌 (like, come on, the moving library? So cool.)
Millie certainly does not disappoint.
October 6, 2025
3.75
It wasn't my favorite middle grade ever, but it was really cute! Perfect fall read <3
It wasn't my favorite middle grade ever, but it was really cute! Perfect fall read <3
November 17, 2024
I loved this story! This is my first book by Millie Florence, and it didn’t disappoint. The story was so clever, and I loved the messages behind it. There was wisdom to be found in every page, balanced perfectly with adventure and humor. And I adore her writing style. I feel like I’ve visited Mulberry Glen, chased after the mischievous Zs, and smelt Livy’s cooking.
A whimsical and charming story, I’d recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt a fear of growing older and the change it brings. I think every preteen/teen would glean something from these pages.
A whimsical and charming story, I’d recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt a fear of growing older and the change it brings. I think every preteen/teen would glean something from these pages.
July 23, 2025
5 stars. This was my second time reading Millie Florence and I had high hopes which were not disappointed. The cost autumnal feels were immaculate and I adored the woodsy living! It was so fairycore/little-forest-people-core, like those delightful squirrel and mouse home illustrations we all love. I also LOVED the Latin, and Lydia, and the Zs, and basically every character; and the plot was intriguing, but not too intense. Most of all, the writing was just absolutely EXQUISITE. I've rarely seen anything so beautiful. I couldn't believe how wonderful and beautiful it was. And finally, I really appreciated the portrayal of depression. As someone who struggles with frequent bouts of that darkness, I was very impressed by how well done it was and how excellently it was explained.
So, why only 5 stars? This would easily have been a 7 or 8 star... except for the ending. I felt very left down and unsatisfied when I finished it! Everything was building up to a spiritual climax and I kept turning the pages expecting Jesus to show up, but he never did, and I just craved him. The best way I can explain it was that it seemed like Christless Christianity—so, so close, but not into the fullest light. There was so much more beyond! Why did we stop on the edge? The solution just wasn't compete... it wasn't enough. There's more, and it's even better; I know, because I've experienced it. <3
Don't get me wrong; it was a gorgeous, fantastic book and I highly recommend it. It would be a great tool for parents to explain depression to their children. I think it would help remove some of the shame and guilt that comes, especially when "my life isn't that bad and I have no reason to be depressed" fills your mind. I can't wait to reread this!! Definitely a new favourite.
Content: There is a fairy, but she has no magical powers, she just flies and is like a thousand years old. There's goblins and elves or whatnot, but the only difference between them and real humans is that it's mentioned casually they're "eight in human years and X many in elf years." The library is said to be magic and it's made of trees + expands + you get lost in it, but it's really an allegory for reading and its dangers.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
So, why only 5 stars? This would easily have been a 7 or 8 star... except for the ending. I felt very left down and unsatisfied when I finished it! Everything was building up to a spiritual climax and I kept turning the pages expecting Jesus to show up, but he never did, and I just craved him. The best way I can explain it was that it seemed like Christless Christianity—so, so close, but not into the fullest light. There was so much more beyond! Why did we stop on the edge? The solution just wasn't compete... it wasn't enough. There's more, and it's even better; I know, because I've experienced it. <3
Don't get me wrong; it was a gorgeous, fantastic book and I highly recommend it. It would be a great tool for parents to explain depression to their children. I think it would help remove some of the shame and guilt that comes, especially when "my life isn't that bad and I have no reason to be depressed" fills your mind. I can't wait to reread this!! Definitely a new favourite.
Content: There is a fairy, but she has no magical powers, she just flies and is like a thousand years old. There's goblins and elves or whatnot, but the only difference between them and real humans is that it's mentioned casually they're "eight in human years and X many in elf years." The library is said to be magic and it's made of trees + expands + you get lost in it, but it's really an allegory for reading and its dangers.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
December 31, 2024
I read the first edition of this book when I was about to move out for college. I was struggling to accept the "loss" of my childhood--why did I have to leave when it would be so much easier to stay home, where everything was familiar?
This book was what I needed. I needed to hear that change could be beautiful, even if it was hard. That even though a season of life was ending, the relationships that marked it didn't have to go away. I realized that maybe, just maybe, I could be ready for this change and embrace it without rejecting everything that made my life at home good.
The storytelling is fantastic. It feels like a fairy tale and a Ghibli movie got together to paint a beautiful picture about mental health. Also, my desire to own a cottage in the woods and drink herbal tea all day has gotten significantly stronger.
If that wasn't enough, the illustrations and cover are absolutely gorgeous. I will be recommending this to every family with children that I know!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was what I needed. I needed to hear that change could be beautiful, even if it was hard. That even though a season of life was ending, the relationships that marked it didn't have to go away. I realized that maybe, just maybe, I could be ready for this change and embrace it without rejecting everything that made my life at home good.
The storytelling is fantastic. It feels like a fairy tale and a Ghibli movie got together to paint a beautiful picture about mental health. Also, my desire to own a cottage in the woods and drink herbal tea all day has gotten significantly stronger.
If that wasn't enough, the illustrations and cover are absolutely gorgeous. I will be recommending this to every family with children that I know!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 19, 2025
A lovely middle grade cozy fantasy book with allegorical elements and a lasting message that Darkness can never truly overcome Light.
Read
January 17, 2026DNF @ 50%
Cute and charming, but the plot and character building are moving too slow for me.
Cute and charming, but the plot and character building are moving too slow for me.
October 25, 2024
What an absolutely cozy, and adventurous journey this story takes you on! I Loved the cozy vibes of Mulberry Glen, Millie's adventure that takes her out of her comfort zone to discover how beyond those comforts, there is so much joy, truth, and beauty to be found! A beautiful story that I highly recommend to young readers (3rd-6th grades), or a family read aloud! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!!
January 29, 2025
I had such high hopes for this anticipated read aloud form RAR. Unfortunately we just couldn’t get in to it. There were too many descriptive lines that left us feeling a bit like , ”ok come on already & tell us what’s actually happening!”
I read to my homeschooled 9, 7 and 5yo daughters who are used to many read aloud classics with old world charm & sentence structure. Seemed a bit like the author would do well as a poet as she did have some lovely verses however it really was distracting and at times unnecessary to the plot of the story.
We tried pushing through but it was a book we stopped reaching for amidst a bunch of others on our TBR list so we stopped it short.
I think with more experience and time the author will hone her skills and give the world many more books that utilize her imagination.
I read to my homeschooled 9, 7 and 5yo daughters who are used to many read aloud classics with old world charm & sentence structure. Seemed a bit like the author would do well as a poet as she did have some lovely verses however it really was distracting and at times unnecessary to the plot of the story.
We tried pushing through but it was a book we stopped reaching for amidst a bunch of others on our TBR list so we stopped it short.
I think with more experience and time the author will hone her skills and give the world many more books that utilize her imagination.
December 26, 2024
This is a sweet whimsical story, set in a fantasy world that is slowly been overtaken by darkness. Lydia, a happy homebody, is thrust into a desperate search for her reckless friends who are determined to stop the darkness. It has a slow start, learning a new world, a new set of characters, and what matters to them, but from the time Lydia left Mulberry Glen, I was hooked. The Mysterious library, the kind herbalist who inspires her, the friends she finds on her adventure, and the author's delightful writing style were some of my favourite parts.
Thank you NetGalley and Waxwing Books for providing this free, Advanced E-Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Waxwing Books for providing this free, Advanced E-Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2025
Beautiful book!!
I read this aloud to my siblings, and I really enjoyed doing the voices of characters such as Quill, the Zs, Cole, and all the dangerous bad guys. (They're fun to do, okay?😂) A few times it was difficult to understand how the Darkness impacted people (like, when it described how Lydia was feeling, it said "the Darkness filled her mind", etc.) But I soon figured it out, and it was so much more exciting than I first anticipated!!
I would totally recommend this to readers of any age---teens of fifteen to kids 10 years old (maybe older or younger, but those are my siblings' ages so I don't know😂). This was a wonderfully crafted story, and I, a teenager beginning her bumpy ride towards adulthood, related a LOT to what Lydia was going through, which was pretty surprising, not gonna lie.
An inspiring tale, letting us all know that the Darkness is never really gone inside us---we just have to grow towards the light in order to fight it.
Thank you, Millie, for writing this whimsical, witty, and wonderfully wholesome story. <3
I read this aloud to my siblings, and I really enjoyed doing the voices of characters such as Quill, the Zs, Cole, and all the dangerous bad guys. (They're fun to do, okay?😂) A few times it was difficult to understand how the Darkness impacted people (like, when it described how Lydia was feeling, it said "the Darkness filled her mind", etc.) But I soon figured it out, and it was so much more exciting than I first anticipated!!
I would totally recommend this to readers of any age---teens of fifteen to kids 10 years old (maybe older or younger, but those are my siblings' ages so I don't know😂). This was a wonderfully crafted story, and I, a teenager beginning her bumpy ride towards adulthood, related a LOT to what Lydia was going through, which was pretty surprising, not gonna lie.
An inspiring tale, letting us all know that the Darkness is never really gone inside us---we just have to grow towards the light in order to fight it.
Thank you, Millie, for writing this whimsical, witty, and wonderfully wholesome story. <3
April 11, 2025
Family read-aloud (ages 12, 9, 7.. age 5 was in and out). My kids really enjoyed this one, especially the shifting library and the Z’s & Quill (wish we saw more of them!) There were a handful of laugh-aloud moments and “don’t stop reading!” moments.
Overall, I would say it had good bones, but left me wanting a little. I think it could’ve used more action and less contemplation. The moral - although heavy-handed and oft repeated - was actually a little confusing so I had to spell it out for the younger ones. But the characters & setting were lovely. We look forward to seeing what else this young author has in store!
Overall, I would say it had good bones, but left me wanting a little. I think it could’ve used more action and less contemplation. The moral - although heavy-handed and oft repeated - was actually a little confusing so I had to spell it out for the younger ones. But the characters & setting were lovely. We look forward to seeing what else this young author has in store!
July 30, 2025
Beautiful!!! Heart warming, delicious book! Imagine the coziest and most heart filling aesthetic and you've got the world of Mulberry Glen in a snap. It reminded me of perfectly contented childhood afternoons spend in the arms of good stories and gentle sun, when the only worry had been, "Would they ever make it alive?" reality postponed until the last chapter and even then still savouring the remnants of an elvish feast I had read about in the book.
September 22, 2025
“Oh Chamomile!” Very sweet middle-grade fiction! The writing is strong, and it’s especially impressive that the author is a teenager. Herbalism is a personal interest of mine, so I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of those details. While the plot and pacing could have been stronger in some areas, I believe this young author has a bright future ahead of her. I’m excited to gift this to my daughter. I know she’ll love it!
December 23, 2024
Beautiful writing. So many quotes worth adding to a commonplace journal. Truths shared without a hint of preachiness. I'm eager for my young girls to read this and think on it as they face the changes and challenges in their own paths in growing up, full of hope!
January 7, 2026
Beyond Mulberry Glen is a magical middle grade fantasy novel with truth for all ages.
Millie Florence has created a beautiful tale of friendship, determination, and the power of truth to triumph over Darkness. Join Lydia Green in a coming of age journey that includes apprenticeship, herbalism, and even a magical library!
“The Darkness has always existed, but light has always existed as well, even when it seems hard to find.”
Millie Florence has created a beautiful tale of friendship, determination, and the power of truth to triumph over Darkness. Join Lydia Green in a coming of age journey that includes apprenticeship, herbalism, and even a magical library!
“The Darkness has always existed, but light has always existed as well, even when it seems hard to find.”
August 6, 2025
I love this tale so much! It’s so well written and I’m so impressed that Millie Florence wrote it when she was only fourteen! It has inspired me so much!
The twins are so hilarious 🤣. They remind me a lot of some of my favorite troublemakers (Merry and Pippin + Fred and George)
The adventure is so fun, and I love the realization Lydia has. (You have to read the book.)
The twins are so hilarious 🤣. They remind me a lot of some of my favorite troublemakers (Merry and Pippin + Fred and George)
The adventure is so fun, and I love the realization Lydia has. (You have to read the book.)
February 13, 2025
I've only read the first two chapters, but goodness, the writing is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! The similes send literal shivers up my spine. This is a library book, but I wish I had my own copy so I could highlight them: and highlighting favorite passages (and this is not an honor I bestow lightly, and especially not within the first two chapters unless it's the likes of Jane Austen). This is so, so good. Millie Florence might be a personal hero of mine (I can't wait to read Honey Butter, as it sounds a little like one of my works in progress).
Thoughts On Finishing The Book:
The writing was beautiful the whole way through. Description and literary devices are definitely this book's strong point, and it made reading it always enjoyable.
The plot was great. I liked the ending a lot more than I expected to. Though this is a simpler story, it didn't feel cliched in the least.
Lydia's own character arc was spectacular, but I thought that a few of the other characters (especially Cole and the Zs) could have been a little more fleshed out. I still loved them all, though, especially Prehna, Corban, Terra, and Quill. I would have liked to have known a little bit more about Garder. But Lydia, definitely my favorite.
And here we come to my major problem with this book.
As a Latin nerd, I was delighted to find that there was extensive use on the language in this book, in fantasy names, chapter titles, and everyday character speech. I read the beginning of this book on the way home from a spoken Latin convention, so that enhanced it, as well.
Unfortunately, by the end, the Latin was driving me a bit bonkers. Not because of it being Latin itself, but because a lot of it was blatantly incorrect. I can't go into all of it, here, because I don't have that much time and frankly wouldn't like to spend all of it correcting the Latin of a book I overall loved. But the fact remains that it was incorrect. And I am a Latin nerd. And so I will provide the correct translations of the chapter titles that got their English to Latin translation incorrect.
Pago Portae (a village of gateways)
Really means: a village of gateway
Should be: Pago Portarum (arum is the feminine genitive plural ending)
On Flumen (on the river)
Really means: I can't provide a translation, because on is not an actual Latin word
Should Be: In Flumen
Lucerna Cera Et Paper Stellas (candlewax and paper stars)
Really means: Candle, wax, and (not a Latin word) stars
Should be: Cera Lucernarum Et Stellas Chartarum (use genitive to imply something is made of something or belongs to something, so wax of candles and stars of paper)
Ad Choro Et Invenere (To Dance and Discover)
Really Means: Towards the dance and (not a Latin word, invenire is fourth declension, not 2nd/3rd--I couldn't tell which is was meant to be because there were no macrons anywhere)
Should be: Ballare Invenireque (et between the two infinitives would also be gramatically correct, but this is how it is normally used) (this especially bothers me because Corban uses the correct Latin word for "to dance" as a verb within the chapter).
That was all the errors in the chapter titles, but there were a lot in the characters' speech, too. This was really an easy thing to have checked before the book went to press, surely Latin correction could have worked its way into the editing stages. It was all very disappointing, and I probably would have given the book 5 stars if it hadn't been for all of this, because I do love Latin so much.
But, overall, amazing book. I'm planning on buying copies of Florence's other two, because my library doesn't have them, and I prefer books in physical rather than digital form.
Thoughts On Finishing The Book:
The writing was beautiful the whole way through. Description and literary devices are definitely this book's strong point, and it made reading it always enjoyable.
The plot was great. I liked the ending a lot more than I expected to. Though this is a simpler story, it didn't feel cliched in the least.
Lydia's own character arc was spectacular, but I thought that a few of the other characters (especially Cole and the Zs) could have been a little more fleshed out. I still loved them all, though, especially Prehna, Corban, Terra, and Quill. I would have liked to have known a little bit more about Garder. But Lydia, definitely my favorite.
And here we come to my major problem with this book.
As a Latin nerd, I was delighted to find that there was extensive use on the language in this book, in fantasy names, chapter titles, and everyday character speech. I read the beginning of this book on the way home from a spoken Latin convention, so that enhanced it, as well.
Unfortunately, by the end, the Latin was driving me a bit bonkers. Not because of it being Latin itself, but because a lot of it was blatantly incorrect. I can't go into all of it, here, because I don't have that much time and frankly wouldn't like to spend all of it correcting the Latin of a book I overall loved. But the fact remains that it was incorrect. And I am a Latin nerd. And so I will provide the correct translations of the chapter titles that got their English to Latin translation incorrect.
Pago Portae (a village of gateways)
Really means: a village of gateway
Should be: Pago Portarum (arum is the feminine genitive plural ending)
On Flumen (on the river)
Really means: I can't provide a translation, because on is not an actual Latin word
Should Be: In Flumen
Lucerna Cera Et Paper Stellas (candlewax and paper stars)
Really means: Candle, wax, and (not a Latin word) stars
Should be: Cera Lucernarum Et Stellas Chartarum (use genitive to imply something is made of something or belongs to something, so wax of candles and stars of paper)
Ad Choro Et Invenere (To Dance and Discover)
Really Means: Towards the dance and (not a Latin word, invenire is fourth declension, not 2nd/3rd--I couldn't tell which is was meant to be because there were no macrons anywhere)
Should be: Ballare Invenireque (et between the two infinitives would also be gramatically correct, but this is how it is normally used) (this especially bothers me because Corban uses the correct Latin word for "to dance" as a verb within the chapter).
That was all the errors in the chapter titles, but there were a lot in the characters' speech, too. This was really an easy thing to have checked before the book went to press, surely Latin correction could have worked its way into the editing stages. It was all very disappointing, and I probably would have given the book 5 stars if it hadn't been for all of this, because I do love Latin so much.
But, overall, amazing book. I'm planning on buying copies of Florence's other two, because my library doesn't have them, and I prefer books in physical rather than digital form.
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