I was positive I reviewed this ARC a year ago! But here I am with a blank page. My daughter needed a book to read and while sifting through my Kindle library, I came across this. Perfect! She is reading it and loving it right now.

The cover is charming, isn't it? It's what drew me in. The deal was sealed when I learned the book contained a magical island of sword wielding librarians who guard the books that only other females are allowed to read.

Our heroine, Brine Seaborne (fun name) has a mysterious past that she cannot remember. Plucked from the sea holding a piece of magical star shell, she was taken in by a magician and passed the time by sneaking peeks at his forbidden books.

The magician's apprentice Peter, and Brine end up on quite the adventure riding on a pirate ship called the Onion. There is lots of hilarity, sarcasm, and witty writing. If I had any critique at all, it might be a little long for the age range? But my daughter (11) isn't at all daunted. She loves Brine already and she's only a handful of chapters in.

The book feels original, magical, adventurous, and funny. Recommend for your MG / Upper MG / early YA readers.