Review :: The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy

I’m reading loads of kids’ fantasy books at the moment and absolutely loving them. I posted a little preview of The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy when i was reading it a few weeks ago and tonight I’m sharing my review.

What is Melanie La’Brooy’s The Wintrish Girl about?

On Talisman Day in the Empire of Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is. All she has ever wanted is the impossible: to own a Talisman and return to her home in Midwinter to find her true family. But Penn’s trapped – doomed to a miserable, lonely life as a royal servant.

But a long-forgotten evil is stirring and destinies are about to change …

When mysterious and sinister events start to occur, the blame falls upon the Wintrish girl. Suddenly Penn finds herself running for her life. Straight into deadly peril. Facing dangerous enemies with formidable powers, what can an ordinary Wintrish girl do? Because without a Talisman, there’s no changing your fate … is there?

A wildly fun adventure featuring at least five impossibly daring escapes, important life lessons about friendship and cucumbers, a dragon with a fear of unicorns and some stylish execution wear. And one vicious berry.

My review of The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy

The Wintrish Girl was such a fun read! It has some of my favourite themes and tropes (found family/friendship/unlikely ‘chosen one’ vibes) and is completely fun and engaging from cover to cover. The main characters were really endearing and great to spend time with – I enjoyed getting to know them and also seeing them get to know each other and figure out how to work together – learning about each other’s strengths at the same time as they are finding their own.

The building of the world, and the mythology and magic underpinning it was well written. I really appreciated that La’Brooy has created a world that readers can really dive into, and that this is a good thick book (over 400 pages) which I think is a dream come true for a young bookworm. If you have an avid young fantasy reader in your life I think this would make a wonderful gift – it should even keep them busy for more than a day (If you know or have been a voracious young reader, you know exactly what I mean!).

The Wintrish Girl is the first book in a series, and I’m genuinely looking forward to finding out what happens next.

xo Bron
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Disclaimer: I am a judge for the 2022 Aurealis Awards. This review is my personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinators, or the Aurealis Awards management team.

The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy
Out now from UQP

Source: I received a free ecopy for Aurealis Award judging, but also bought myself this paperback copy because it is just so beautiful
Category: Aussie children’s (8-12yrs) magical fantasy #LoveOzMG
Format: Paperback, 440 pages

Check out my preview of The Wintrish Girl here.
Keep up with the latest from Melanie on her website and Instagram.