Review of Jirvania

[Priya Murugesan]

A very honest review by you! I thought of selecting this book many times. But after reading your review, I believe I would pass this one!

[Anaïs Quesson]

The book sounds delightful and sweet. I've loved books with a bit of lore and mythology in them. It sounds like it has a bit of historical fiction too but I can't say because you didn't mention the setting. It was wonderful reading your review.
Stay well and keep writing!

Thank you for your comment, Qwerty!
I don't remember this book as being a historical fiction. Maybe it's the fact that the characters time travel that makes you think that? If I recall correctly, the whole universe of Jirvania is an invention, so i don't think it qualifies as a historical fiction per se.

[Qwerty Writes]

Yes, that's what I meant.

Thank you for your comment, Qwerty!
I don't remember this book as being a historical fiction. Maybe it's the fact that the characters time travel that makes you think that? If I recall correctly, the whole universe of Jirvania is an invention, so i don't think it qualifies as a historical fiction per se.

[Kshitija Sonawane]

I wonder how the author came up with the name for this fantasy world. Jirvania does sound like Nirvana so maybe from there or maybe it means something else in another language. I believe I would definitely enjoy this book since I love dreams so much! You did a good job with the review.

[Following is a volunteer review of "Jirvania" by Jan Anderegg.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.”

Jirvania is the second book in Jan Anderegg’s Julu fantasy series. However, thanks to a comprehensive summary of the previous book at the beginning, Jirvania can be read as a stand-alone.

Julu tells the story of twelve-year-old Jack Lemoine, a young boy whose life turns upside down when he discovers a dragon’s egg ready to hatch. With his cousin Mia and the newborn dragon Julu, Jack discovers the existence of Jirvania, a utopian world of magic, love, harmony, and imagination. It is home to The Great Library, where all stories are born. But evil forces threaten this utopian land of imagination. With the help of Julu, Jack and Mia travel through time and stories to rewrite the story and save Jirvania.
The second book picks up right where the first has stopped. Jack and Mia have traveled back to 1971 and met Bee, their grandmother and princess of Jirvania, along with her friend Rayne. The teenagers immediately embark on multiple fantastic adventures through time and fairy tales.

Will Jack and his friends be able to save Jirvania from the evil Spore Army threatening the universe? Or will imagination and love finally be evicted for good?

The main storyline of Jirvania doesn’t differ from most young adult fantasy books: the sudden discovery of an unknown magical world in need of rescue by the young and noble hero destined to save it. However, I like how the story is peppered with references to popular characters, creatures, and gods from well- and less-known foreign folktales. I think the presence of such characters brings originality to Anderegg’s story.

Jirvania evokes numerous themes, such as the importance of friendship and the need for compassion and love. While the teachings are mostly candid metaphors, they are still enjoyable for an older reader. This book has a good potential for teenagers to understand the complexity of the world surrounding them and the necessity of staying open-minded and compassionate.
Although there are no profanities or sexual content in this book, there are a few violent topics mentioned, such as death, illness, or suicidal thoughts. None of these subjects are gruesomely detailed, but I still advise parents of particularly young or sensitive children to know this book’s contents beforehand.

If I generally enjoyed this book, I was disappointed by its character development. I struggled to understand the personality of each of the characters. They’re either black or white, good or bad. None of the characters on Jirmania’s side have any flaws. On the other hand, none of the bad guys have any motivation that made me understand their actions. All the characters are interchangeable and replaceable.
Moreover, the numerous characters prevented me from fully understanding all the storylines. Despite the summary at the start of the book and the index at the end, they have no discernable personality and blend into each other. It distracted me from the story.
On a side note, I particularly enjoyed Rayne’s character. Her rich personality shines through playful dialogue lines and vivid affection toward Jack. It makes her the most believable and realistic character in this book.

I find Anderegg’s writing style very approachable. Jirvania suits a large target audience. It is accessible and simple enough for teenagers, while the underlying themes of belonging and compassion give it enough depth to be appreciated by adults. Anyone seeking an escape to the land of imagination will likely be content.
The storytelling could benefit from more organization, though. The pace is very swift, jumping from one idea to the next without focusing much on the characters’ feelings and thoughts. Although it might be perfect for younger readers with a short attention span, a stronger focus on the characters could enhance the older readers’ experience by building emotional intimacy with the story.

I give Jirvania a final rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
I took a few points off my rating due to the lack of character development I mentioned above. Despite that, Jirvania is a delightful tale of love, hope, and kindness. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to escape the dullness of real life for a fabulous fairy tale. I also suggest starting with the first book.

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Jirvania
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