Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna

Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she lock the front door? Is there a terrible reason her mum is late? Recently her anxiety has been getting out of control, but one thing that has always soothed her is drawing. Kiki's sketchbook is full of fantastical doodles of the Hindu myths and legends her mother has told her since she was tiny.

One day, her sketchbook's calming effect is broken when her mythological characters begin springing to life and Kiki is pulled into the mystical world she drew.

There, she discovers the band of rebel kids who protect the kingdom, as well as an ancient, monstrous god bent on total destruction. Kiki must overcome her fear and anxiety to save both worlds - the real and the imagined - from his wrath.

But how can a girl armed with only a pencil defeat something so powerful?

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This is one of those reviews that's hard to write. Not because I didn't enjoy it - I really did! - but because I'm pretty sure this is just going to be an incoherant ramble about the BRILLIANT and the FUN and the HEART BREAK and the MUST READ!

In fact, in case I forget later, here is my very favourite quote; I've already put it on Twitter, but I think it's worth highlighting again.

Suki was the last one to go. With her hand on my doorknob, she stopped and looked back at me.

'Try to remember, ok?'

'Remember what?'

'Little girls can beat big bad wolves. We have teeth, too.'

What a fantastic message to give to young readers! Suki gets a couple of lines like that and they fall so beautifully. If this book had nothing else going for it, I'd still love it just for those words. 

But it has plenty of other things going for it; a fabulous main character (PARENTS NOTE, she suffers with anxiety and children may have questions or want to discuss it after reading) a brilliant setting, a background in myths that are neither GrecoRoman nor British, amazing descriptions, really clever twists and turns...really, this book has so much going for it. It's one of a few due out this year featuring the basic idea 'someone draws things that come to life' and if they're all this amazing, we're in for a fantastic treat.

I loved the way Kiki uses everything she's learned from everyone to fight her battles. I love how simple and clever her final solution is. I love - though I don't know why, other than the lovely image - the way she keeps referring to the city as her 'golden kingdom'. And I really hope there's more to read in this world. I'll be eagerly waiting to see what else Kiki and her friends are going to get up to. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to brush up on my Indian myths...

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom publishes on the 8th of July, 2021 in the UK (top image) and on the 6th of Kuly, 2021, in the US (lower image). I received a free copy and am writing an honest review.