*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I love a story that tackles what comes after the win and this is exactly that. In Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, Callie is allowed to become a page and the bad guy is banished from the kingdom but in this sequel we see how progress is often followed by an oppositional backlash. The story is still full of hope but I love how this book shows young readers that progress isn't linear and that healing is a journey. I also love the way the events of this book can be used to explain some of the real-world politics of today in a way that children understand.

While I still personally have a preference for shorter middle grade books, I did find the pacing of this one more consistent throughout than I did the first book. I also love the introduction of neopronouns and the way Symes-Smith writes characters finding "their words" when it comes to pronouns and labels.