Sunderroot

by Christina Juhlin

Magic runs through the roots of the Earth. It always has.

Thirteen-year-old Aria Renwood has never belonged anywhere, with her family unknown and the city itself a stranger. When she is pulled from her life in York to a hidden academy deep in Sweden’s ancient forests, everything changes and Aria couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement at the adventure ahead. Built by Norse mages, Oakspire Academy stands in a land where forest spirits whisper and vaesen roam.

Here, Aria discovers the magic isn’t just real – it’s alive.

And it’s dying.

Nature itself has chosen her, but her powers refuse to be tamed. As shadows rise and the balance of the natural world breaks, Aria must decide whether to run from the destiny that terrifies her or fight for the first home she’s ever known.

The roots are stirring. And Aria is at the heart of it.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 19, 2026

About the author

Christina Juhlin (they/them) is a Swedish-Portuguese fantasy author debuting with Sunderroot, the first in the series Threads of the World Tree.

Their writing draws from their identity as a multicultural queer scientist and their passion for capturing the natural world through photography and visual art. With a master’s degree in conservation biology, Christina brings scientific authenticity into their fantasy worlds. They enjoy exploring themes of ecology, social injustice, while creating a vivid natural world to get lost into.

Christina lives in Sweden with their wife and son. When not writing they enjoy nature photography, hiking and birdwatching.

Reviews

[Mary Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful.
For me, the mark of a great Young Adult book is when it doesn’t read like it was written “for” a teenager. Christina Juhlin has created a story that works so completely, it is so engrossing and immersive and written with such care, it is truly a book of beautiful words.
The imagery is so lushly woven throughout the story, it feels like every single word was chosen with the utmost care, while the story and the plot flow so well that it seems as though each and every exquisite description of the natural world just fell into place with ease.
The talent to write in a way that is so rich with descriptive language, while progressing the story at the perfect tempo is staggering.

At its heart Sunderroot is a story about belonging, finding your place in the world, embracing yourself and choosing your own path to follow. The friendships and personal growth are utterly beautiful to read and experience.

Reading is something that gives me joy, be it as escapism, or information gathering, or seeing a real world issue through a different lens. There is so much renewed discourse about reading being political (it is.).
Sunderroot blends compassion, understanding, oppression and the idea that the lines between good and evil are more blurred than we realise.

I am absolutely in awe of this book.

[Candice Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunderroot is an interesting read that reminds me of a Harry Potter magical school setting and concept, but makes its own.

Aria is a wholesome main character that you easily find yourself cheering on and encouraging through her moments of doubt. She is also surrounded by her found group of friends that are easy to see why she was drawn to them, and how they help her to grow and branch out as the story progresses.

The story starts with a quick moment of unknown insight, and then you find yourself in a future moment in time. I’m interested to find out more about the timeline between those moments and Aria’s backstory and how she found herself in the orphanage.

I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of characters and the Norse themes woven into the story line. The plot line of the story was easy to fall into, and after a somewhat slow start really kept me engaged in the story and invested in the troubles with the magic.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book! I found myself eager to learn more about what comes next as I finished!

Thank you, author Christina Juhlin, for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[V.J. Liston · Rating 5 out of 5]

With my Nordic roots, my reverence for the natural world and my love of fantasy fiction, I was excited to read Sunderroot from the moment I started seeing posts about it.

And I was not disappointed!

Yes, it does start a wee bit slowly, but you can feel the story growing with every page, weaving the threads and compelling you to turn those pages to find out what….no spoilers in this review.

Aria is highly relatable as a protagonist and the rest of the characters add real depth to both her and the story.

If you look at the world’s flora and fauna and feel a sense of wonder at the majesty of nature, Sunderroot is a book you need to read. I cannot wait to read this series as it unfolds!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Serendipity · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, thanks to the author for the ARC.

I wish I could give a higher rating. The story reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, an orphan who suddenly finds out she has magic powers and ends up in a magic school. But the mix with Nordic myths gave it a nice twitch, with the differences between mages and wizards and how their connection with magic works. I would like to know more about this world, its creatures and magical elements.
However, I feel the story jumps so much we don't really get to understand the main character, Aria, or her relationship with some of the characters.
The start at the academy is slow and the action happens in the last 100 pages, but at that point I already felt disconnected with the story.

Maybe a younger audience will enjoy more this book.

[AElis]

I received this book as an ARC

I have currently read 33% of the book and here are my though so far:

This book follow a very classic frame. Human child (orphan) discovere one day that they have magical power and then get sent to magic school.

Child is the "Chosen one". Child makes friends, learn magic, have to face bullies while the teachers are complicite with the bullying.

Honestly, everything in the story seems a bit predictable so far and I am also disapointed that things aren't more magical.

I might not finish this book since I am tired of reading stories with bullying. Especially when the adults do absolutly nothing to prevent it (I know adult are often as useless in real life, but I read stories to escape. Not to see real life like reactions)

[Wren L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunderroot is an evocative and exciting novel, with intriguing world-building that bridges a supernatural realm with a very real one. While the pace starts off rather slow, things slowly snowball out of control until Aria is forced to confront the issue head-on.

Right from the beginning I was rooting for Aria’s success—success in escaping the children’s home, success in finding her place at school, and success in saving her new home. Over the course of the book she meets a widely diverse array of friends, all from different places in the world. This book does not hold back when it comes to diversity, especially when discussing a character’s culture, skin tone, or gender identity, and that was a breath of fresh air.

There were very few things that took me out of the immersion. The primary one was the repeated mentions of “main character energy” in one scene—it read more like the author was having fun quoting a modern meme, than anything that actually fit in the story itself. Most uses of modern phrasing melded well with the story, but this one in particular felt as though the story was trying to poke fun at itself. But Sunderroot as a whole does not carry that same sense of self-ridiculing humor or “4th wall” breaking, so those phrases felt out of place.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book! This book had the gears in my brain turning—what was causing the death of magic? Who was involved? I was rooting for the characters as they figured out the mystery while also navigating the mundane troubles of school life.

Thank you, author Christina Juhlin, for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Soha Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunderroot is a gripping fantasy that blends dark magic, intrigue, and personal discovery into a fast-paced, immersive tale. Christina Juhlin creates a world that is atmospheric, detailed, and alive, with magic systems and stakes that feel high and dangerous.

The protagonist is compelling, navigating difficult choices, secrets, and challenges with a balance of cunning and vulnerability. The plot is filled with twists that keep you guessing, and the pacing is excellent for readers who enjoy tension and emotional stakes. This book is perfect for fans of dark fantasy and character-driven adventure.

[Ash Berrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this advanced reader copy to read this with my 12 and 10 year old kids, and we all enjoyed the story. The kids particularly loved the side characters and some of their banter. I particularly liked that nature is the source of magic.
I’d recommend for kids of a similar age. Fun story

[Noëmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review will follow

[Anna Frorud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great YA read that reminds me of a Harry Potter world, with the discovery of magic and a magic school setting.
I hope to read more of Aria and this world in the future!