Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Publisher: Macmillan
Vanya never feels that she quite fits in. School is challenging because of her ADHD, and her best friends are the books she speaks to in her parents' bookshop – books which answer her back!
But when a monstrous creature known as an Old One attacks her family, Vanya is let in to her parents' secret world – a world filled with magic, archwitches, and archivists, centred around the mysterious library and school of Auramere, where she is sent to hone her powers and discover her true destiny.
Vanya’s immersion into the hidden world of Auramere is truly captivating. The descriptions of the school and its setting are rich and detailed, and readers will feel transported to the dusty shelves of the enchanted library or the spiced warmth of the village bakery.
One of the great strengths of this book is its excellent representation of neurodivergence, specifically ADHD and autism, which are central parts of characters’ stories and strengths.
Author Sangu Mandanna also draws on elements of global mythology and Vanya’s Indian heritage effectively to set up the ongoing battle between archwitches and the Old Ones.
This first in a series is a great recommendation for fans of Skandar, Percy Jackson or Onyeka.
