Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen

By Krysta on 08/17/2024

Information

Goodreads: Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
Series: None
Age Category: Middle Grade
Source: Library
Published: 2024

Summary

Anzu does not feel much like celebrating Obon now that her grandmother is dead. Trying to avoid the festivities, she chases a stray dog, slips and falls, and somehow wakes up in the Shinto underworld of Yomi. The Guardian of Yomi warns her she must return to the human world because she is trapped forever. But that will require a long journey--and a fight with a goddess who collects lost children.

Review

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is an action-packed adventure that takes readers through an intriguing underworld but also leaves them with a powerful message about accepting one's identity. It begins as Anzu and her family move to a new town, leaving Anzu disoriented. She has recently lost her grandmother and she is having trouble at school, where the other students mispronounce her name. She is unsure of who she is and hesitant to claim her cultural identity. But when she stumbles into Yomi, she will need to believe in herself if she is ever to find her way out.

I love a good underworld story, and Anzu and the Realm of Darkness does not disappoint. It has a surly (but friendly) guardian, monsters, gods and goddesses, and a mystery to uncover--the spirits of children missing from the human world. Readers get a whirlwind tour as Anzu travels the realm seeking aid and a way out.

Anzu's inner journey, however, is just as important as her outward ones. Readers will sympathize with Anzu as she grapples with grief from the loss of her grandmother, loses self-confidence after being teased at school, and struggles in general to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. Readers, of course, recognize that Anzu is bold, determined, and kind--and other characters do, too. But Anzu will need to accept herself if she is to find the strength to fulfill her mission in Yomi.

This is a fun, fast-paced adventure sure to resonate with readers who like all things fantasy or who enjoy coming-of-age stories. The beautiful artwork adds yet another layer of pleasure to the story. Highly recommended for those who enjoy mythology-inspired stories.