Official Review: Yona by Deanna Irwin

[Adedayo+23]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Yona" by Deanna Irwin.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Ancient native magic is explored in this riveting tale by Deanna Irwin. In the early days of the United States, the white man’s initial foray into America and subsequent attempt to learn to live with his new red-skinned neighbors saw a relationship fraught with tension, distrust, and hostility. Little Xuan (pronounced Sue Ann) was born during this period into a peaceful native tribe. With stories of horrific massacres abound and war looking imminent, Xuan’s mother summons a mighty ancient magical beast to protect her small daughter.

Yona follows little Xuan’s journey as she navigates a whole new world on her own after finding herself in the remote small town of Willow Springs, Pennsylvania. Xuan’s fierce protector is always swift to act anytime the little girl feels threatened. Harboring such powerful magic, Xuan becomes the town’s little secret, one that is passed down from generation to generation.

Yona was a short, enlightening, and engaging read. I loved how the first chapter was set up to draw readers in with its ominous tone. The simple, compelling writing made it easy to get lost in the story, and the characters were both engaging and relatable. The diligent research that went into writing this book made the plot appear plausible, despite the supernatural element. This is the perfect book for fans of dark fantasy novels.

Yona had several high points for me. It was fascinating reading about the ways and customs of early Native Americans, especially the Iroquois nation. They were deeply spiritual and peace-loving people who just wanted to be left alone to live as they always have. I appreciated the brief but detailed history about the root of the conflict between the English settlers and the native tribes. The author weaved different stories from both the settlers and the natives’ points of view. This was done to give readers a better understanding of what was happening. It also served to build the backstory for what was to come.

I could not find a single thing to dislike about the story. I loved both the fascinating history and the fictional supernatural element. The book appeared professionally edited with minimal errors. While there were a few violent scenes, none of them were distastefully graphic. The book is also free of scenes of sex and strong language. This book can be enjoyed from age 12 and up, as it offers an enlightening historical account of the early days in America and an enthralling plot. I am happy to rate Yona 4 out of 4 stars.

******
Yona
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Rayah Raouf]

It's difficult finding exciting books suited towards younger teens, so this sounds just right. Thank you for your review.

[Suzer6440 xyz]

This was a very good review- thank you! I don’t think this is a book for me. But I am glad I fed this

[Jennifer Aldo]

I really think a cover picture would draw more attention and excitation, especially for the target audience. Nice review by the way.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a fascinating story that mixes history and supernatural, interesting in particular for readers interested in Native American culture. Thank you for your great review!

[Malve]

I absolutely love dark fantasy and this book seems just perfect. 
Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks for your review.