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Eva Evergreen #0
Alliana, Girl of Dragons
Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2022
39 people are currently reading
3779 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 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 23, 2022
I received an ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I previously read one of the author’s other books, Eva Evergreen, Semi Magical Witch, and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this one since it acts as a prequel to the Eva Evergreen books. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book as much as Eva Evergreen.
This is a Cinderella retelling and because of that, the book felt constrained plot wise. I didn’t feel as though the story benefitted from being a Cinderella retelling. If the book was just a regular middle grade fantasy without the Cinderella aspects, it still would have worked. I also felt that the book wasn’t as magical as Eva Evergreen. Eva Evergreen had a certain charm about it and I was hoping this book would too since it is set in the same universe.
Additionally, for a book with the word “dragons” in the title, it was light on the dragons. The book never seemed to fully explore the dragons and Alliana’s relationship with them. (Maybe this will come in a later book?)
Don’t get me wrong, I did like some things about the book. I enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Grandmother Mari and Nela. Each of them had such a special relationship and bond with Alliana that was heartwarming to see. I also liked the parts that did feature the dragons.
Overall, there were some things I liked about this and some things I had issues with. I hope there is a sequel to this book since there’s still more to explore with Alliana. If you are looking for a middle grade fantasy, I would say to give it a shot!
I previously read one of the author’s other books, Eva Evergreen, Semi Magical Witch, and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this one since it acts as a prequel to the Eva Evergreen books. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book as much as Eva Evergreen.
This is a Cinderella retelling and because of that, the book felt constrained plot wise. I didn’t feel as though the story benefitted from being a Cinderella retelling. If the book was just a regular middle grade fantasy without the Cinderella aspects, it still would have worked. I also felt that the book wasn’t as magical as Eva Evergreen. Eva Evergreen had a certain charm about it and I was hoping this book would too since it is set in the same universe.
Additionally, for a book with the word “dragons” in the title, it was light on the dragons. The book never seemed to fully explore the dragons and Alliana’s relationship with them. (Maybe this will come in a later book?)
Don’t get me wrong, I did like some things about the book. I enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Grandmother Mari and Nela. Each of them had such a special relationship and bond with Alliana that was heartwarming to see. I also liked the parts that did feature the dragons.
Overall, there were some things I liked about this and some things I had issues with. I hope there is a sequel to this book since there’s still more to explore with Alliana. If you are looking for a middle grade fantasy, I would say to give it a shot!
August 5, 2022
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for a physical copy and eARC in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
This was a lovely prequel! I hope it gets a sequel.
Alliana, Girl of Dragons takes place in the same world as Abe's debut, Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch. However, this one takes place before Eva is born. In it we follow Alliana, a human girl who used to love fairytales and always had imaginative dreams. All of that came crashing down after her father died. Now she's forced to do menial labor for her stepmother through all her waking hours.
But when Alliana meets Nela, a young witch, and a nightdragon that can talk to her, she finds her life changing in unexpected ways. Nela needs Alliana's help to navigate the abyss, but Alliana must sneak around her stepfamily in order to help Nela. Everything balances on a precipice and Alliana must decide whether the risk is worth it to achieve her dreams.
So this is a Cinderella retelling. I didn't realize that at first, but when you start reading it, it's very obvious. I love that it's set in the same world as Eva Evergreen! I loved that world so much and it was so cool to dive into the more non-magical side of it.
Alliana is an adventurous girl who's tamed her desires to conform to what he stepmother wants. I loved seeing Nela and the other witches help bring Alliana back out of her shell. I also really loved seeing them form such a strong friendship. Friendship and following your heart is a big part of this novel. I loved Alliana's growth and seeing her figure out what she really wants.
Alliana's friendship with her dragon was so awesome. I loved seeing them become close and how they protected each other. Someone else said there wasn't enough dragon in this, but I felt like the dragon was plenty present. Though I'd never say no to even more, but he is a big player in the novel.
The ending was so hopeful and it really step up for the start of a new series. I am very hopeful there will be one. I'd love to see Alliana's journey continue.
This was a lovely prequel! I hope it gets a sequel.
Alliana, Girl of Dragons takes place in the same world as Abe's debut, Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch. However, this one takes place before Eva is born. In it we follow Alliana, a human girl who used to love fairytales and always had imaginative dreams. All of that came crashing down after her father died. Now she's forced to do menial labor for her stepmother through all her waking hours.
But when Alliana meets Nela, a young witch, and a nightdragon that can talk to her, she finds her life changing in unexpected ways. Nela needs Alliana's help to navigate the abyss, but Alliana must sneak around her stepfamily in order to help Nela. Everything balances on a precipice and Alliana must decide whether the risk is worth it to achieve her dreams.
So this is a Cinderella retelling. I didn't realize that at first, but when you start reading it, it's very obvious. I love that it's set in the same world as Eva Evergreen! I loved that world so much and it was so cool to dive into the more non-magical side of it.
Alliana is an adventurous girl who's tamed her desires to conform to what he stepmother wants. I loved seeing Nela and the other witches help bring Alliana back out of her shell. I also really loved seeing them form such a strong friendship. Friendship and following your heart is a big part of this novel. I loved Alliana's growth and seeing her figure out what she really wants.
Alliana's friendship with her dragon was so awesome. I loved seeing them become close and how they protected each other. Someone else said there wasn't enough dragon in this, but I felt like the dragon was plenty present. Though I'd never say no to even more, but he is a big player in the novel.
The ending was so hopeful and it really step up for the start of a new series. I am very hopeful there will be one. I'd love to see Alliana's journey continue.
August 8, 2022
“Alliana raised her chin, regal as Queen Natsumi. ‘I may be a girl of dust, but that’s not all there is to me. Remember this: I am a girl of dust and dragons, and I will not let myself be treated like this a moment longer.’”
Rating: 4.5/5.0
★★★★✩
Thank you Netgalley, TBR and Beyond Tours and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange of a honest review!
check out my review, along with five reasons to read this book on my blog!
In short, Alliana was everything whimsical. A retelling of the Japanese Cinderella, it wastes no time in pulling you into the story, leaving you gaping at the magical world of witches and dragons.
Like Cinderella, Alliana starts off an ordinary girl, orphaned at a tender young age, now forced to do her stepmother’s endless list of chores to fulfill her “debt”. But her life takes a complete turn when a nightdragon and a young witch enter her life, rendering Alliana and the readers curious for more!
The twist here though, is that our Cinderella here isn’t out for her Prince Charming, but to enrol in the prestigious Royal Academy. I went into this book not expecting to like it very much, but I’m so glad to say that I loved reading this! (No, we will not be blaming it on my recent love for middle grade releases).
So if this isn't reasons enough for you to pick up Alliana, Girl of Dragons, then obviously, check out my blog post linked above that has five reasons you need to pick this up!
January 6, 2023
I went with my gut when picking out my first read of 2023, and this middle grade fantasy from Julie Abe (which came out last summer) was the perfect choice. It allowed me to revisit a world that I love dearly, and to experience it through the eyes of a brand new main character; this mix of familiar and new worked perfectly in engaging me as a reader all throughout. Unlike the Eva Evergreen duology, this tale took a little more time for me to warm up to (which probably has more to do with my feelings about the Cinderella type tale on the whole). Slow burn to start it may have been, but by the end, I was all in with Alliana and her companions... to the point where the last couple of chapters made me very teary-eyed. If you're looking for a charming, lovely middle grade read, this will absolutely be a book for you. Julie Abe is, by far, one of my favorite middle grade novelists and I look forward to reading all of the books she has in store for us in the future!
zzzz
August 3, 2023#1) Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch ★★★★☆
#2) Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch ★★★☆☆
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
July 30, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Alliana, Girl of Dragons is one of my most anticipated middle grade releases of 2022. Julie Abe is a middle grade queen! This Cinderella meets retelling transforms what you know about Cinderella not only by locating it in the Eva Evergreen world, but also with dragons! My heart instantly went out to Alliana. She has such a good and kind heart and her family treats her horribly. But throughout it all, Alliana, Girl of Dragons stresses found family. Family (and friends) who will choose us, see us, and support us. Who encourage us to follow our dreams. And who will be right there next to us.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Alliana, Girl of Dragons is one of my most anticipated middle grade releases of 2022. Julie Abe is a middle grade queen! This Cinderella meets retelling transforms what you know about Cinderella not only by locating it in the Eva Evergreen world, but also with dragons! My heart instantly went out to Alliana. She has such a good and kind heart and her family treats her horribly. But throughout it all, Alliana, Girl of Dragons stresses found family. Family (and friends) who will choose us, see us, and support us. Who encourage us to follow our dreams. And who will be right there next to us.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 23, 2022
This is the second book by Julie Abe I've read, after Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch, and I'm still a bit undecided as to how much I like her writing.
This book is essentially a Cinderella retelling in the world of Eva Evergreen that takes inspiration from a Japanese version of Cinderella. This probably accounts for the presence of dragons in the book (we'll get there). Alliana is forced to work in her stepmother's inn while her stepbrother bullies her and her stepsister stands by. Her only allies are her best friend, who is similarly trapped in their small town, and her grandmother, who is not actually her grandmother but her stepmother's mother-in-law. Alliana's only hope of escaping from the debts her stepmother is constantly piling on her is to be chosen to attend an elite academy, but being selected to attend depends on her being able to go to a ball...this is where the Cinderella aspect comes in.
Without giving too much away, Alliana's town is near some kind of...abyss? Rift? Where dragons are known to live. Via some circumstances, she befriends a baby dragon and begins giving it treats. This is where the book starts to lose me because this book promised me dragon friendship and frankly there was not enough of this dragon character in the book. There's a timeskip of about a year after Alliana and the dragon first meet, and during that year they don't have any more direct interactions until post-timeskip. I would have liked to see a lot more of this dragon because he was fantastic. I acknowledge that this story takes place in a world where people are afraid of dragons and it would have been difficult for Alliana and her dragon to hang out, but I still wanted it to happen. In short: We needed more of this dragon.
So what's happening when Alliana is busily not spending time with her dragon? Well, she has lots of chores, like any good Cinderella character, as well as other friendships to cultivate, as it turns out. An apprentice witch has been sent to patch up the magical barrier protecting everyone from the rift with a couple of her peers, and Alliana's insight into the local magical animals turns out to be useful. If you've read Eva Evergreen, this witch friend will be familiar to you. She functions a bit like the fairy godmother might in a typical Cinderella story, although mainly she's just here to be a cool friend and enjoy baked goods.
As far as characterization goes, I think Julie Abe is really good at writing endearing friendships. That was what won me over to Eva Evergreen and why I rated it four stars. But here, although I like the friendships, I was disappointed that we were spending time developing Alliana's friendship with the witch instead of her friendship with the dragon.
Additionally, I don't think Abe is as good at writing villains. So far, her villains seem to be so over-the-top nasty that they're cartoonish. Sure, you want them to get beaten, but it can be hard to take them seriously. Luckily, in Eva Evergreen, the character who was the worst offender of this only had a couple scenes. But here, the stepmother is present throughout the entire book, and she's so shallowly awful that it feel kind of ridiculous. I want to root for Alliana overcoming the abuses heaped on her by her stepmother and stepbrother, but her victory over them doesn't feel as satisfying when they're such cardboard cutouts of bad people. I think that's why I don't feel like this book rates any higher than three stars for me.
Of course, that's just my own opinion, and others may react differently. There were a lot of things I liked about this book. The cover is beautiful, I definitely rooted for Alliana throughout, and I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, including Alliana's best friend, her new magic apprentice friends, and OF COURSE the dragon (who truly needed more screentime. The title isn't Alliana, Girl of Witch Friendship). I don't know whether I should expect a sequel for this book, but I'm curious to see if Alliana will appear in the main Eva Evergreen series (which I probably will continue because it's so darn cute).
Overall, I think this is a fun middlegrade Cinderella retelling. If you like the Eva Evergreen series, you'll definitely like this book. I would say that if you like fairytale retellings by the likes of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale, you might like this book as well. It's a cute book. It just needed more dragons and a little more character depth.
This book is essentially a Cinderella retelling in the world of Eva Evergreen that takes inspiration from a Japanese version of Cinderella. This probably accounts for the presence of dragons in the book (we'll get there). Alliana is forced to work in her stepmother's inn while her stepbrother bullies her and her stepsister stands by. Her only allies are her best friend, who is similarly trapped in their small town, and her grandmother, who is not actually her grandmother but her stepmother's mother-in-law. Alliana's only hope of escaping from the debts her stepmother is constantly piling on her is to be chosen to attend an elite academy, but being selected to attend depends on her being able to go to a ball...this is where the Cinderella aspect comes in.
Without giving too much away, Alliana's town is near some kind of...abyss? Rift? Where dragons are known to live. Via some circumstances, she befriends a baby dragon and begins giving it treats. This is where the book starts to lose me because this book promised me dragon friendship and frankly there was not enough of this dragon character in the book. There's a timeskip of about a year after Alliana and the dragon first meet, and during that year they don't have any more direct interactions until post-timeskip. I would have liked to see a lot more of this dragon because he was fantastic. I acknowledge that this story takes place in a world where people are afraid of dragons and it would have been difficult for Alliana and her dragon to hang out, but I still wanted it to happen. In short: We needed more of this dragon.
So what's happening when Alliana is busily not spending time with her dragon? Well, she has lots of chores, like any good Cinderella character, as well as other friendships to cultivate, as it turns out. An apprentice witch has been sent to patch up the magical barrier protecting everyone from the rift with a couple of her peers, and Alliana's insight into the local magical animals turns out to be useful. If you've read Eva Evergreen, this witch friend will be familiar to you. She functions a bit like the fairy godmother might in a typical Cinderella story, although mainly she's just here to be a cool friend and enjoy baked goods.
As far as characterization goes, I think Julie Abe is really good at writing endearing friendships. That was what won me over to Eva Evergreen and why I rated it four stars. But here, although I like the friendships, I was disappointed that we were spending time developing Alliana's friendship with the witch instead of her friendship with the dragon.
Additionally, I don't think Abe is as good at writing villains. So far, her villains seem to be so over-the-top nasty that they're cartoonish. Sure, you want them to get beaten, but it can be hard to take them seriously. Luckily, in Eva Evergreen, the character who was the worst offender of this only had a couple scenes. But here, the stepmother is present throughout the entire book, and she's so shallowly awful that it feel kind of ridiculous. I want to root for Alliana overcoming the abuses heaped on her by her stepmother and stepbrother, but her victory over them doesn't feel as satisfying when they're such cardboard cutouts of bad people. I think that's why I don't feel like this book rates any higher than three stars for me.
Of course, that's just my own opinion, and others may react differently. There were a lot of things I liked about this book. The cover is beautiful, I definitely rooted for Alliana throughout, and I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, including Alliana's best friend, her new magic apprentice friends, and OF COURSE the dragon (who truly needed more screentime. The title isn't Alliana, Girl of Witch Friendship). I don't know whether I should expect a sequel for this book, but I'm curious to see if Alliana will appear in the main Eva Evergreen series (which I probably will continue because it's so darn cute).
Overall, I think this is a fun middlegrade Cinderella retelling. If you like the Eva Evergreen series, you'll definitely like this book. I would say that if you like fairytale retellings by the likes of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale, you might like this book as well. It's a cute book. It just needed more dragons and a little more character depth.
Want to read
August 2, 2022ARC received!! Thank you, Little, Brown Books for YR!!!
I'm obsessed with this cover and the story sounds all kinds of adorable. I'm really excited to check this one out this Summer!!!
I'm obsessed with this cover and the story sounds all kinds of adorable. I'm really excited to check this one out this Summer!!!
May 2, 2023
first off, adored the entire setting of this cinderella-inspired retelling of a young girl who was mistreated by her stepmother ever since her father passed away. second, loved alliana’s friendship with her dragon, her thunder, kabo. i hope the rest of the books in the series do tap on alliana’s telepathic ways with the nightdragons but it seems like we’re following a new character in the eva evergreen duology. thirdly, the friendships in this book is simply the best. isao, nela, hayato, and taichi showed alliana kindness and cared for her. lastly, alliana’s relationship with her step grandmother.. they depended each other a lot and when grandmother mari passed, it was one of the hardest things alliana went through.
since this is a retelling of cinderella, alliana was bound to do chores upon chores and was reprimanded without a cause. to that, i would say alliana only stayed for one person and for one reason. her courage and determination and love what helped alliana throughout the book and i’m so glad that her friends were there to help her.
can’t wait to read eva’s story and see how this expansive this world of magic and dragons and witches would be.
since this is a retelling of cinderella, alliana was bound to do chores upon chores and was reprimanded without a cause. to that, i would say alliana only stayed for one person and for one reason. her courage and determination and love what helped alliana throughout the book and i’m so glad that her friends were there to help her.
can’t wait to read eva’s story and see how this expansive this world of magic and dragons and witches would be.
August 12, 2022
3.5/5, rounded up because I love dragons. Full review soon!
August 23, 2022
Julie Abe’s books are so cozy and totally remind me of reading Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale when I was young.
Read
August 30, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Child abuse
Grief & loss depiction
Death of parents
Animal injury? (dragon)
Child abuse
Grief & loss depiction
Death of parents
Animal injury? (dragon)
July 5, 2022
Source: ARC from publisher
Review to come.
Review to come.
August 7, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Alliana, Girl of Dragons
Author: Julie Abe and Shan Jiang
Book Series: part of the Eva Evergreen series
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, high fantasy, fantasy, dragons, Cinderella, Japanese Cinderella, fairy tales
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: MG High Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (child abuse, death of parents, grief, slavery, animal harm, murder, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of showing of child abuse, allusions to slavery, slight violence, and mentions of murder (murder by omission and sabatoge). The book heavily revolves around grief and loneliness and shows the deaths of the MC’s parents and parental figures. There is also a dragon fight and some harm to a dragon.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great read that is a callback to other great fairytales like Cinderella and Repunzel (it is inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story after all), except with a dragon-y twist! The book is a great HP replacement and has a lot of Eragon vibes, so this would be perfect to help get your little one ready for Eragon. The book is also kinda a side story from the Eva Evergreen series! I loved the characters and thought they were well developed. I also thought the world building was good and I really thought the book was well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought it was a bit slow, but overall I loved it and I hope to see more of Alliana in future books.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
Book: Alliana, Girl of Dragons
Author: Julie Abe and Shan Jiang
Book Series: part of the Eva Evergreen series
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, high fantasy, fantasy, dragons, Cinderella, Japanese Cinderella, fairy tales
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Genre: MG High Fantasy
Age Relevance: 12+ (child abuse, death of parents, grief, slavery, animal harm, murder, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of showing of child abuse, allusions to slavery, slight violence, and mentions of murder (murder by omission and sabatoge). The book heavily revolves around grief and loneliness and shows the deaths of the MC’s parents and parental figures. There is also a dragon fight and some harm to a dragon.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?
Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought this was a great read that is a callback to other great fairytales like Cinderella and Repunzel (it is inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story after all), except with a dragon-y twist! The book is a great HP replacement and has a lot of Eragon vibes, so this would be perfect to help get your little one ready for Eragon. The book is also kinda a side story from the Eva Evergreen series! I loved the characters and thought they were well developed. I also thought the world building was good and I really thought the book was well written.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought it was a bit slow, but overall I loved it and I hope to see more of Alliana in future books.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
July 27, 2022
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝.”
Actual rating: 3.5 ✨
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the story was well-written and I really liked all of the characters! I thought the inclusion of the dragons was so fun and I loved Kabo so much! I also thought Alliana was a great narrator, it was so easy to root for her and she didn’t give off the doormat vibes I sometimes get from Cinderella retellings.
I did find this story to be dragging at certain points though and going way to fast at other points which is why I rated it like I did. I wanted more time with the dragons and a more fleshed-out scene about the ball, instead I feel like we got a lot of exposition.
I loved that this was set in the world of Eva Evergreen and that we got to see Eva’s mom as a young witch! It was such a fun inclusion and I’m excited to go reread that book because this one does kind of read like a prequel to that, at least in my opinion.
Overall this was a charming fairytale retelling that had some pacing issues but I still loved the world building and the characters!
I won an arc of this book from a Goodreads giveaway!
Actual rating: 3.5 ✨
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the story was well-written and I really liked all of the characters! I thought the inclusion of the dragons was so fun and I loved Kabo so much! I also thought Alliana was a great narrator, it was so easy to root for her and she didn’t give off the doormat vibes I sometimes get from Cinderella retellings.
I did find this story to be dragging at certain points though and going way to fast at other points which is why I rated it like I did. I wanted more time with the dragons and a more fleshed-out scene about the ball, instead I feel like we got a lot of exposition.
I loved that this was set in the world of Eva Evergreen and that we got to see Eva’s mom as a young witch! It was such a fun inclusion and I’m excited to go reread that book because this one does kind of read like a prequel to that, at least in my opinion.
Overall this was a charming fairytale retelling that had some pacing issues but I still loved the world building and the characters!
I won an arc of this book from a Goodreads giveaway!
February 26, 2025
This is such a fun Cinderella retelling for middle grade readers, with dragon riding, witches, magic, and found family, some of my favorite story ingredients. Alliana lives in an inn on the outskirts of the abyss, a magical but dangerous land. Not many people live this close to the abyss. Her stepmother abuses and stepbrother abuse her, and Alliana's only bits of happiness is being with her step grandmother and with her friend, a baker. Those moments are too rare. She dreams of joining the Royal Academy, but has to attend a ball to be accepted, and her stepmother will never let her attend. But then Alliana befriends a young witch guest, and a young dragon hatchling.
Very charming. I haven't read Eva Evergreen, but I want to now!
Very charming. I haven't read Eva Evergreen, but I want to now!
July 23, 2022
Really loved this middle grade Cinderella retelling by author Julie Abe!
I think the thing I loved the most about this retelling is there is no romance! No prince, just a focus on the journey that Alliana takes as she gets older and has to choose how to deal with her horrible stepmother and step brother.
I love Alliana's strength and courage! Her relationship with her dragon found family is so lovely I enjoyed the dragon lore of thunders and being able to communicate. Even the "evil" dragon was such a cool character, I love the resolution of the final battle!
Overal, Alliana, Girl of Dragons was a fantastic middle grade fantasy novel!
I think the thing I loved the most about this retelling is there is no romance! No prince, just a focus on the journey that Alliana takes as she gets older and has to choose how to deal with her horrible stepmother and step brother.
I love Alliana's strength and courage! Her relationship with her dragon found family is so lovely I enjoyed the dragon lore of thunders and being able to communicate. Even the "evil" dragon was such a cool character, I love the resolution of the final battle!
Overal, Alliana, Girl of Dragons was a fantastic middle grade fantasy novel!
March 18, 2025
It’s pretty cute! It’s a young adult book full of friendship, love and warmth. Made me smile all the way through.
It is an adaptation of Cinderella. Even though I have read tons of Cinderella stories, I wasn’t bored by this one. The weaving in of a different culture and some magical influences made it more unique.
It is an adaptation of Cinderella. Even though I have read tons of Cinderella stories, I wasn’t bored by this one. The weaving in of a different culture and some magical influences made it more unique.
August 3, 2022
a slightly hard one to read, because Alliana is really horribly treated by her stepmother and so a lot of it wasn't fun and happy, but a very good fantasy with a lovely dragon and good friends.
February 25, 2024
This book was basically a Cinderella retelling with dragons. It was cute but seemed to drag on towards the end.
September 17, 2022
i miss when books had cool illustrations.................... deffo below my reading level but still a nice read
August 15, 2022
When I saw the ‘Dragon’ in the book title, I was immediately interested. Dragons are and will always be my favorite magical creatures, so obviously I had to read this book. And you know what? I really enjoyed it.
This is a Japanese Cinderella Retelling, and our main character Alliana finds her world crumbling around her. Her grandmother just passed away, and her stepmother is awful to her. After some time, she makes the acquaintance of a dragon and a young witch, and so her story begins.
I loved the writing style of Abe and despite not having read the other books in the Evergreen series, I had no troubles following the story. “Alliana, Girl of Dragons” is a lighthearted read and even has some action scenes to spice the whole reading up.
This is a great middle grade fantasy novel and I think all of our young readers out there should pick it up because it is simply an amazing read.
This is a Japanese Cinderella Retelling, and our main character Alliana finds her world crumbling around her. Her grandmother just passed away, and her stepmother is awful to her. After some time, she makes the acquaintance of a dragon and a young witch, and so her story begins.
I loved the writing style of Abe and despite not having read the other books in the Evergreen series, I had no troubles following the story. “Alliana, Girl of Dragons” is a lighthearted read and even has some action scenes to spice the whole reading up.
This is a great middle grade fantasy novel and I think all of our young readers out there should pick it up because it is simply an amazing read.
October 24, 2024
All of us witches and wizards usually have an affinity for one of the main types of magic: there's creation magic, knowledge, repair, scrying and weather.
Long ago, Alliana held fast to her belief in dreams and fairy tales. She always hoped that she will get to travel to the capital to meet the queen; as Alliana and her grandmother used to narrate stories while sewing tapestries. Alliana is trapped in a life of servitude to her cruel stepmother, spending long hours cleaning the family inn and sewing dresses for her stepsister, often at the expense of her own well-being. Her life takes a turn when she meets two extraordinary beings: a young night-dragon with whom she discovers she can communicate magically, and Nela, a spirited young witch.
Amidst the stifling summer wind, there was a road with signs which she used to always read – To the Capital, To the Abyss, To Narashino, To the Inn. But to her those signs were full of promises and hope – The Path to Dreams, The Path to Darkness, The Path to Others, The Path to Misery.
Nela seeks Alliana's guidance to traverse a treacherous abyss teeming with perilous creatures, a realm familiar to Alliana. She views Nela's request as an opportunity to escape her oppressive stepmother and pursue a life she has only dreamed of. However, there is a significant risk involved; if discovered, Alliana may be condemned to serve her stepmother indefinitely. Can Alliana transform her dreams into a reality that surpasses a fairy-tale ending?
Some lines from this book -
For you, reader: May you find your own path, and unravel your own tale.
We think we trade in gold and silver, but words are the true currency of our lives. Words are what connect us through time and distance, whether expressing troubles or joy. I hope this letter will be something for you to carry close to your heart, a reminder of where you've come from, and the future you have yet to unravel.
Magic takes many forms. I've enough respect for myself to say I carry a bit of thread-magic, and creatures seem to be particularly fond of you, perhaps through some form of magic of your own. It's not always wands and flashes of spells, as you know from the oldest of tales.
A connection beyond barriers, a connection beyond what we see; let friendship tie you together, no matter where you may be.
Sometimes, you've got to look beyond the appearance of a thing to find its true value.
I may be a girl of dust, but that is not all that you'll find of me. I am not so alone as you thought. There is more to me than what you know, and I will travel far, no matter what you say I can do.
Long ago, Alliana held fast to her belief in dreams and fairy tales. She always hoped that she will get to travel to the capital to meet the queen; as Alliana and her grandmother used to narrate stories while sewing tapestries. Alliana is trapped in a life of servitude to her cruel stepmother, spending long hours cleaning the family inn and sewing dresses for her stepsister, often at the expense of her own well-being. Her life takes a turn when she meets two extraordinary beings: a young night-dragon with whom she discovers she can communicate magically, and Nela, a spirited young witch.
Amidst the stifling summer wind, there was a road with signs which she used to always read – To the Capital, To the Abyss, To Narashino, To the Inn. But to her those signs were full of promises and hope – The Path to Dreams, The Path to Darkness, The Path to Others, The Path to Misery.
Nela seeks Alliana's guidance to traverse a treacherous abyss teeming with perilous creatures, a realm familiar to Alliana. She views Nela's request as an opportunity to escape her oppressive stepmother and pursue a life she has only dreamed of. However, there is a significant risk involved; if discovered, Alliana may be condemned to serve her stepmother indefinitely. Can Alliana transform her dreams into a reality that surpasses a fairy-tale ending?
Some lines from this book -
For you, reader: May you find your own path, and unravel your own tale.
We think we trade in gold and silver, but words are the true currency of our lives. Words are what connect us through time and distance, whether expressing troubles or joy. I hope this letter will be something for you to carry close to your heart, a reminder of where you've come from, and the future you have yet to unravel.
Magic takes many forms. I've enough respect for myself to say I carry a bit of thread-magic, and creatures seem to be particularly fond of you, perhaps through some form of magic of your own. It's not always wands and flashes of spells, as you know from the oldest of tales.
A connection beyond barriers, a connection beyond what we see; let friendship tie you together, no matter where you may be.
Sometimes, you've got to look beyond the appearance of a thing to find its true value.
I may be a girl of dust, but that is not all that you'll find of me. I am not so alone as you thought. There is more to me than what you know, and I will travel far, no matter what you say I can do.
September 1, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy for review.
This was a really good read! I loved the fairytale feel that this retelling had, and I liked the twists that the author included in the story. This is a retelling of the Japanese Cinderella and it’s recommended for fans of Gail Carson Levine. As someone who enjoyed Ella Enchanted and Fairest by that author, I got similar vibes from the story and writing and think readers will adore this story of a girl who discovers herself, true friends, and a special connection with a magical creature.
I really liked Alliana’s character. She was really interesting, and she was so strong. She was neglected, mistreated, and generally treated horribly by her stepmother and stepbrother. When she finds a night dragon hatchling and discovers she can speak to it, the story really picked up for me. I found it a bit slow for the first 100 pages, and then part 2 kicked it up and I flew through the rest of the book in one sitting.
The friendships in this book were really sweet. I liked that they were each there for Alliana in different ways. I also liked how they were there in the end, and I thought the ending was heartwarming. Nela was also a fascinating character. I really liked the magic system in this world, but I would have loved more explanation overall of the abyss, the shield, and the magic. Nela and Alliana had such a pure friendship that was trusting and loyal.
This was a really good read! I loved the fairytale feel that this retelling had, and I liked the twists that the author included in the story. This is a retelling of the Japanese Cinderella and it’s recommended for fans of Gail Carson Levine. As someone who enjoyed Ella Enchanted and Fairest by that author, I got similar vibes from the story and writing and think readers will adore this story of a girl who discovers herself, true friends, and a special connection with a magical creature.
I really liked Alliana’s character. She was really interesting, and she was so strong. She was neglected, mistreated, and generally treated horribly by her stepmother and stepbrother. When she finds a night dragon hatchling and discovers she can speak to it, the story really picked up for me. I found it a bit slow for the first 100 pages, and then part 2 kicked it up and I flew through the rest of the book in one sitting.
The friendships in this book were really sweet. I liked that they were each there for Alliana in different ways. I also liked how they were there in the end, and I thought the ending was heartwarming. Nela was also a fascinating character. I really liked the magic system in this world, but I would have loved more explanation overall of the abyss, the shield, and the magic. Nela and Alliana had such a pure friendship that was trusting and loyal.
June 10, 2022
As a lover of all things Japanese-related, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I was fortunate enough to have received an arc on NetGalley to interview Julie Abe for my Author Spotlight series for Her Campus. If you enjoyed the synopsis and this book calls to you, I suggest reading it to get an insight more of what the book is like.
https://www.hercampus.com/school/hofs...
https://www.hercampus.com/school/hofs...
November 8, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Alliana once had loving parents who ran a stately inn at the edge of a magic preserve, but her mother passed away, her father remarried a widow with twins Alliana's age, Reizo and Reina, and then her father disappeared in a mountain climbing accident. Since, she has been treated poorly by the stepmother, who is interested only in the money she can extract from the inn, since her skills at running it are less than optimal. The stepmother claims that Alliana owes her money, and every transgression, from broken dishes to being late to work, catapults her deeper into debt with the bitter woman. The one bright light is Reizo and Reina's grandmother Mari, who treats Alliana with kindness. No one else does. Reizo steals from her, and Reina is always demanding something from her mother that requires work on Alliana's part. While Alliana wishes to someday attend the Royal Academy, she realizes there is little hope. There seems to be a little, when the Royal Advisor shows up at the inn, wanting all three children to appear at the Farmlands Ball, where they will be scryed to determine whether or not they can attend the school, but the stepmother forbids Alliana from going, making sure she doesn't have an appropriate dress. Alliana does have a friend, Isao, who works for a baker in the town and hopes to get a better apprentice ship elsewhere. She also meets a young witch, Nela, and some of her friends, who want to help her. Alliana also finds a young nightdragon who connects with her and communicate telepathically. She names him Kabo, and takes care of him as much as she can. When Grandmother Mari dies, the stepmother tries to take anything that belonged to her and sell it. Alliana is left with only the grandmother's sewing kit and a message that she is to take care of Mari's family. As much as she would like to run away, she stays to honor those wishes. Will Alliana ever be able to use her connections to the Royal Advisor, and harness Kabo's powers in order to be able to move on from her stepmother's evil grasp?
Strengths: Like this author's Eva Evergreen: Semi Magical Witch, this book is set in a vaguely older, vaguely Japanese world where some people are magical and others are not. There are some delicious pastries, that thrilling possibility of magic, and best of all, a dragon. It's a spin on the Cinderella story, and readers who like horrible things to happen continually to the protagonist will love seeing Alliana put up with and then overcome her horrible stepmother. Grandmother Mari is a gentle herbalist who is so kind to Alliana, and Reizo and the stepmother are deliciously wicked. Isao and Nela are good friends, and not to spoil too much, but things turn out well at the end, and I think Alliana ends up running into Eva Evergreen at some point.
Weaknesses: Alliana is treated so horribly that it was a bit hard to believe that she wouldn't try running away at some point. Things couldn't get much worse. Also, I was hoping for a few more details about caring for a dragon.
What I really think: There is a wide range of flavors of dragon books. Tsangs' Dragon Realm series and London's Battle Dragons have more action and adventure, Burgis' The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart is a fun twist on dragon lore, and Yogis and Truoung's The Awakening Storm graphic novel and Durst's fantastic Spark deal more with the day to day care and feeding of dragons. My students are HUGE fans of Sutherland's Wings of Fire series, which is more Warriors style fighting and clan wars. With it's anime/manga style page decorations, Alliana will also appeal to fans of all things Japanese.
Alliana once had loving parents who ran a stately inn at the edge of a magic preserve, but her mother passed away, her father remarried a widow with twins Alliana's age, Reizo and Reina, and then her father disappeared in a mountain climbing accident. Since, she has been treated poorly by the stepmother, who is interested only in the money she can extract from the inn, since her skills at running it are less than optimal. The stepmother claims that Alliana owes her money, and every transgression, from broken dishes to being late to work, catapults her deeper into debt with the bitter woman. The one bright light is Reizo and Reina's grandmother Mari, who treats Alliana with kindness. No one else does. Reizo steals from her, and Reina is always demanding something from her mother that requires work on Alliana's part. While Alliana wishes to someday attend the Royal Academy, she realizes there is little hope. There seems to be a little, when the Royal Advisor shows up at the inn, wanting all three children to appear at the Farmlands Ball, where they will be scryed to determine whether or not they can attend the school, but the stepmother forbids Alliana from going, making sure she doesn't have an appropriate dress. Alliana does have a friend, Isao, who works for a baker in the town and hopes to get a better apprentice ship elsewhere. She also meets a young witch, Nela, and some of her friends, who want to help her. Alliana also finds a young nightdragon who connects with her and communicate telepathically. She names him Kabo, and takes care of him as much as she can. When Grandmother Mari dies, the stepmother tries to take anything that belonged to her and sell it. Alliana is left with only the grandmother's sewing kit and a message that she is to take care of Mari's family. As much as she would like to run away, she stays to honor those wishes. Will Alliana ever be able to use her connections to the Royal Advisor, and harness Kabo's powers in order to be able to move on from her stepmother's evil grasp?
Strengths: Like this author's Eva Evergreen: Semi Magical Witch, this book is set in a vaguely older, vaguely Japanese world where some people are magical and others are not. There are some delicious pastries, that thrilling possibility of magic, and best of all, a dragon. It's a spin on the Cinderella story, and readers who like horrible things to happen continually to the protagonist will love seeing Alliana put up with and then overcome her horrible stepmother. Grandmother Mari is a gentle herbalist who is so kind to Alliana, and Reizo and the stepmother are deliciously wicked. Isao and Nela are good friends, and not to spoil too much, but things turn out well at the end, and I think Alliana ends up running into Eva Evergreen at some point.
Weaknesses: Alliana is treated so horribly that it was a bit hard to believe that she wouldn't try running away at some point. Things couldn't get much worse. Also, I was hoping for a few more details about caring for a dragon.
What I really think: There is a wide range of flavors of dragon books. Tsangs' Dragon Realm series and London's Battle Dragons have more action and adventure, Burgis' The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart is a fun twist on dragon lore, and Yogis and Truoung's The Awakening Storm graphic novel and Durst's fantastic Spark deal more with the day to day care and feeding of dragons. My students are HUGE fans of Sutherland's Wings of Fire series, which is more Warriors style fighting and clan wars. With it's anime/manga style page decorations, Alliana will also appeal to fans of all things Japanese.
July 30, 2022
With warm friendships, dreams of the world beyond, and a touch of magic, this nod toward Cinderella takes a twist all of its own and invites to a wonderful, fantasy world.
Alliana works at the inn of her step-mother, trying to repay an impossible debt after her birth parents have both passed away. She dreams of traveling beyond her small town to a place where witches and wizards train...not that she has an ounce of magic. When a herb-gathering outing takes her to the edge of the dangerous rift, beyond whose shield dangerous creatures live, she rescues a baby dragon. Amazingly, she can hear its thoughts. But then, she always has seemed to have a special way with animals. Others have noticed this, too, but Alliana never guessed it would bring a real witch to her doorstep. And she never guessed the witch would want her help to fulfill an important task. But to do so would mean leaving the inn and the evil step-mother, betraying the written wishes in the will of the only person Alliana adored. Plus, her debt needs to be paid, or she'll never truly be free.
While taking on a bit of the Cinderella tale, this story goes beyond that border and reaches in new directions, which don't require the Cinderella constraints at all. Still, there's a sweetness in seeing the parallels with Cinderella as Alliana works for her step-mother and struggles to go beyond her borders (many actually self-constructed). She's kind-hearted, sympathetic, and it's hard not to pity her situation, although the reader might not agree that she shouldn't just pack up and run away. When she does, finally, begin to head into adventure, she's a heroine to root for.
Friendships are a shining light as Alliana first has a relationship with her 'grandmother' and a baker's son, before developing one with the witch and more. The author knows how to build these and pack each relationship with the right amount of emotion and heart. The villains, on the other hand, were nasty and dislikable, and stand as a nice opposites to the friendships. Other characters, however, didn't get the same depth and felt more superficial as they weaved in and out of the plot.
While the world and story are very well done and kept me in the pages until the very end, I did expect a bit more magic and...well, dragons. While the dragons are there, they run as a lighter side-plot, which works fine and creates a wonderful read, too. A reader just shouldn't go into this one with the same dragon expectations, which are held in other, currently popular reads for this age group. Even the magic takes a lighter role than I expected, but it is a fun one, which adds a wonderful, whimsical touch. And let's not forget the pastries because those alone are like a dream, making the reader wish they could have a bite.
Summed up, this is a well done read, which holds the reader the entire way through. There's much to enjoy, and the tale flows more than smoothly...probably smoother than a true ride on a flying dragon would ever be. I do recommend it to fantasy fans and found it to be a lovely read.
I received an ARC from the publisher and enjoyed this fantasy world.
Alliana works at the inn of her step-mother, trying to repay an impossible debt after her birth parents have both passed away. She dreams of traveling beyond her small town to a place where witches and wizards train...not that she has an ounce of magic. When a herb-gathering outing takes her to the edge of the dangerous rift, beyond whose shield dangerous creatures live, she rescues a baby dragon. Amazingly, she can hear its thoughts. But then, she always has seemed to have a special way with animals. Others have noticed this, too, but Alliana never guessed it would bring a real witch to her doorstep. And she never guessed the witch would want her help to fulfill an important task. But to do so would mean leaving the inn and the evil step-mother, betraying the written wishes in the will of the only person Alliana adored. Plus, her debt needs to be paid, or she'll never truly be free.
While taking on a bit of the Cinderella tale, this story goes beyond that border and reaches in new directions, which don't require the Cinderella constraints at all. Still, there's a sweetness in seeing the parallels with Cinderella as Alliana works for her step-mother and struggles to go beyond her borders (many actually self-constructed). She's kind-hearted, sympathetic, and it's hard not to pity her situation, although the reader might not agree that she shouldn't just pack up and run away. When she does, finally, begin to head into adventure, she's a heroine to root for.
Friendships are a shining light as Alliana first has a relationship with her 'grandmother' and a baker's son, before developing one with the witch and more. The author knows how to build these and pack each relationship with the right amount of emotion and heart. The villains, on the other hand, were nasty and dislikable, and stand as a nice opposites to the friendships. Other characters, however, didn't get the same depth and felt more superficial as they weaved in and out of the plot.
While the world and story are very well done and kept me in the pages until the very end, I did expect a bit more magic and...well, dragons. While the dragons are there, they run as a lighter side-plot, which works fine and creates a wonderful read, too. A reader just shouldn't go into this one with the same dragon expectations, which are held in other, currently popular reads for this age group. Even the magic takes a lighter role than I expected, but it is a fun one, which adds a wonderful, whimsical touch. And let's not forget the pastries because those alone are like a dream, making the reader wish they could have a bite.
Summed up, this is a well done read, which holds the reader the entire way through. There's much to enjoy, and the tale flows more than smoothly...probably smoother than a true ride on a flying dragon would ever be. I do recommend it to fantasy fans and found it to be a lovely read.
I received an ARC from the publisher and enjoyed this fantasy world.
August 7, 2022
Alliana, Girl of Dragons
By: Julie Abe
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: August 2, 2022
Children’s Fiction
#AllianaGirlofDragons#NetGalley
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Little Brown Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy tale happily ever after?
Book Review:
I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. It is a quick read.
This is a Cinderella retelling. You have an evil stepmother and instead of two ugly stepsisters you have instead an evil stepbrother and a stepsister who isn’t so bad.
Alliana is an orphan and is being raised by her stepfamily. She is treated poorly and has to do all the chores and most of the cooking. When she has spare time, she tries to sale off some herbs she gathers to pay off the debt she owes her stepfamily.
One day while gathering herbs she witnesses an event with three-night dragons. Two of them are fighting over the third baby one. Alliana goes and rescues the baby, and she is able to communicate with it through thought. She tells the little dragon to hide, and she will try to see him as soon as possible and will leave it some food if she can.
As time goes on the night dragon grows and Alliana isn’t able to see him but is able to leave a little bit of food for him. During this time Alliana also meets up with a witch. This witch needs her help with some problems that the town they live in is having. Alliana isn’t sure what she can do but she is willing to help out.
As the year continues on things are happening both in her life and the town. Alliana tries really hard with her stepfamily, but it is not easy. Eventually she finds out somethings and this makes her angry.
This is her story and how she handles things.
This story will also make you have some strong feelings toward the stepmother and stepbrother.
By: Julie Abe
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: August 2, 2022
Children’s Fiction
#AllianaGirlofDragons#NetGalley
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Little Brown Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.
Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.
Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy tale happily ever after?
Book Review:
I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. It is a quick read.
This is a Cinderella retelling. You have an evil stepmother and instead of two ugly stepsisters you have instead an evil stepbrother and a stepsister who isn’t so bad.
Alliana is an orphan and is being raised by her stepfamily. She is treated poorly and has to do all the chores and most of the cooking. When she has spare time, she tries to sale off some herbs she gathers to pay off the debt she owes her stepfamily.
One day while gathering herbs she witnesses an event with three-night dragons. Two of them are fighting over the third baby one. Alliana goes and rescues the baby, and she is able to communicate with it through thought. She tells the little dragon to hide, and she will try to see him as soon as possible and will leave it some food if she can.
As time goes on the night dragon grows and Alliana isn’t able to see him but is able to leave a little bit of food for him. During this time Alliana also meets up with a witch. This witch needs her help with some problems that the town they live in is having. Alliana isn’t sure what she can do but she is willing to help out.
As the year continues on things are happening both in her life and the town. Alliana tries really hard with her stepfamily, but it is not easy. Eventually she finds out somethings and this makes her angry.
This is her story and how she handles things.
This story will also make you have some strong feelings toward the stepmother and stepbrother.
November 7, 2022
While I absolutely adored Eva Evergreen, I must say, I was mildly disappointed with this one. But it was still pretty good, in my humble opinion.
I did not know, however, that this was a very strict Cinderella reimagining. While that's not a bad thing, it was a surprise. I found Alliana's stepfamily infuriating, to say the least, and of course Grandmother Mari was a treasure to be protected at all costs. And I totally forgot that this was a prequel to my favorite series from this author, so that was also a surprise! I really enjoyed learning about Nelalithimus and seeing her again was quite a treat. Also learning more about Nela's magic and her friendships and rivalries was great while they are learning their craft and trade with magic.
I think, what made this only a four star, but perhaps verges on the three-star territory for me still, is the fact that this was such a super strict retelling of a classic story. While it did have its own flavor, I did enjoy it up to a point. I thought it was well written and thought out, the twists at the end were heartbreaking and cruel, and showcase just how strong Alliana is and brings out the monarch she will inevitably become in her future, but that is alas where I felt this book lacked a bit.
I wanted so much more! I was getting to the end and was hoping maybe this might be a duology like the Eva books, but alas...this is a standalone. And when I got to the end, I was happy but also a little disappointed. I felt deflated because there wasn't enough of what I had originally hoped would be in this story. I wanted to see more of Alliana in the Academy, learning her trade and harnessing and gathering an understanding of her bond with her dragon, Kabo. I wanted to see how she was able to communicate with him and be a part of his family, and I desperately wanted to see a Queen who had a dragon as a best friend and how that shaped her as the Queen. But...we didn't get any of that. This book ends on what I consider to be a cliffhanger of uncertainty. And I sit here going eh, was it a three?
The only thing that I think influenced my status on making it a four-star book was the atmosphere. I found that to be very interesting and enveloping, though at times I found myself drifting with the overall kind of lack of some originality. But what had me giving it a four (for now), was the uniqueness of Alliana's found family trope. She has some witches and wizards who become her family, a friend baker and a dragon, and I thought that was pretty special. And while her stepfamily gets what they deserve in the end, it felt more like a footnote than actual justice and a serious plot point.
I have such mixed feelings about this, but it was pretty good overall, just lacking what I actually was hoping for and sticking to the childhood and young adolescence and not moving forward with more of what makes Alliana who she is as she grows older. For fans of Eva Evergreen, give this a try for certain. It might surprise you more than it did me.
I did not know, however, that this was a very strict Cinderella reimagining. While that's not a bad thing, it was a surprise. I found Alliana's stepfamily infuriating, to say the least, and of course Grandmother Mari was a treasure to be protected at all costs. And I totally forgot that this was a prequel to my favorite series from this author, so that was also a surprise! I really enjoyed learning about Nelalithimus and seeing her again was quite a treat. Also learning more about Nela's magic and her friendships and rivalries was great while they are learning their craft and trade with magic.
I think, what made this only a four star, but perhaps verges on the three-star territory for me still, is the fact that this was such a super strict retelling of a classic story. While it did have its own flavor, I did enjoy it up to a point. I thought it was well written and thought out, the twists at the end were heartbreaking and cruel, and showcase just how strong Alliana is and brings out the monarch she will inevitably become in her future, but that is alas where I felt this book lacked a bit.
I wanted so much more! I was getting to the end and was hoping maybe this might be a duology like the Eva books, but alas...this is a standalone. And when I got to the end, I was happy but also a little disappointed. I felt deflated because there wasn't enough of what I had originally hoped would be in this story. I wanted to see more of Alliana in the Academy, learning her trade and harnessing and gathering an understanding of her bond with her dragon, Kabo. I wanted to see how she was able to communicate with him and be a part of his family, and I desperately wanted to see a Queen who had a dragon as a best friend and how that shaped her as the Queen. But...we didn't get any of that. This book ends on what I consider to be a cliffhanger of uncertainty. And I sit here going eh, was it a three?
The only thing that I think influenced my status on making it a four-star book was the atmosphere. I found that to be very interesting and enveloping, though at times I found myself drifting with the overall kind of lack of some originality. But what had me giving it a four (for now), was the uniqueness of Alliana's found family trope. She has some witches and wizards who become her family, a friend baker and a dragon, and I thought that was pretty special. And while her stepfamily gets what they deserve in the end, it felt more like a footnote than actual justice and a serious plot point.
I have such mixed feelings about this, but it was pretty good overall, just lacking what I actually was hoping for and sticking to the childhood and young adolescence and not moving forward with more of what makes Alliana who she is as she grows older. For fans of Eva Evergreen, give this a try for certain. It might surprise you more than it did me.
December 6, 2022
Julie Abe’s Alliana Girl of Dragons, the prequel to her debut Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch, is a magical fantasy tale inspired by the Japanese version of Cinderella. Instead of fairy godmothers, pumpkins, and mice, however, Alliana is surrounded by magical friends, her dreams and even dragons.
While reading the book, it's not immediately evident that it is a fairytale retelling. However, once the story really gets started, you can see the elements of Cinderella at its heart with the various twists the author implemented to make it a unique tale. Similar to Cinderella, Alliana is an orphan who’s forced to work for her cruel stepmother and stepsiblings like a slave. She’s always loved fairy tales, but instead of dreaming of a Prince Charming to take her away from her situation, she’s been dreaming of joining the Royal Academy. That dream has seemed just out of reach for most of her life. Things change, however, once she meets her new magical witch friend Nela and a night dragon.
Alliana is a kind-hearted gentle girl, and it was hard as a reader to see how cruel her step-family were. Grandmother Mari was a shining light in Alliana’s life, and after reading the author note it was touching to see that the character was inspired by the author’s own Grandmother. Alliana’s friends Nela and Isao were also instrumental in giving her the nudge and the resources to allow her to chase her dream. I just love the incorporation of a dragon in the book. In my opinion, dragons make every book better (without fail) and Kabo is awesome. I hope the author writes more books in this world and incorporates him into more stories in the future.
I did want to note that, as opposed to the Disney retelling of Cinderella, I appreciated how Alliana’s step-family were punished at the end of the book for their treatment of her. Instead of just throwing them in a hole and tossing the key away, their punishments were designed to make them understand why what they did was wrong. I don’t think blanket forgiveness is the best message for the audience level this book is aimed at.
If a fairy tale retelling that features found family, friendship, and perseverance at its core sounds like something you would enjoy, then you should check out Alliana Girl of Dragons. Readers who are familiar with Eva Evergreen should know that this is set in the same universe, but it's an entirely different storyline and set before Eva is born. As a nice treat, there are some characters that appear in both books (you’ll have to read the books to figure out which ones).
Thank you to the author, the publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, NetGalley and the team at TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Alliana Girl of Dragons immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
While reading the book, it's not immediately evident that it is a fairytale retelling. However, once the story really gets started, you can see the elements of Cinderella at its heart with the various twists the author implemented to make it a unique tale. Similar to Cinderella, Alliana is an orphan who’s forced to work for her cruel stepmother and stepsiblings like a slave. She’s always loved fairy tales, but instead of dreaming of a Prince Charming to take her away from her situation, she’s been dreaming of joining the Royal Academy. That dream has seemed just out of reach for most of her life. Things change, however, once she meets her new magical witch friend Nela and a night dragon.
Alliana is a kind-hearted gentle girl, and it was hard as a reader to see how cruel her step-family were. Grandmother Mari was a shining light in Alliana’s life, and after reading the author note it was touching to see that the character was inspired by the author’s own Grandmother. Alliana’s friends Nela and Isao were also instrumental in giving her the nudge and the resources to allow her to chase her dream. I just love the incorporation of a dragon in the book. In my opinion, dragons make every book better (without fail) and Kabo is awesome. I hope the author writes more books in this world and incorporates him into more stories in the future.
I did want to note that, as opposed to the Disney retelling of Cinderella, I appreciated how Alliana’s step-family were punished at the end of the book for their treatment of her. Instead of just throwing them in a hole and tossing the key away, their punishments were designed to make them understand why what they did was wrong. I don’t think blanket forgiveness is the best message for the audience level this book is aimed at.
If a fairy tale retelling that features found family, friendship, and perseverance at its core sounds like something you would enjoy, then you should check out Alliana Girl of Dragons. Readers who are familiar with Eva Evergreen should know that this is set in the same universe, but it's an entirely different storyline and set before Eva is born. As a nice treat, there are some characters that appear in both books (you’ll have to read the books to figure out which ones).
Thank you to the author, the publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, NetGalley and the team at TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Alliana Girl of Dragons immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
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