Author: Brian Farrey
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Released: February 1, 2022
Received: NetGalley

The Counterclockwise Heart is arguably one of the most unique novels I’ve read in quite some time. Written by Brian Farrey, it is already clear that this is a novel written to captivate children’s imagination (and adults, of course).

Rheinvelt is running out of time. It has been running out of time ever since a mysterious statue appeared overnight. Given the size and sudden appearance of the statue, it is not man-made, which means that everyone has a right to be afraid of the warrior and her ready stance.

In hopes of finding a solution to the problem, Young Prince Alphonsus is sent to tell tales to the statue. His words quell the statue while his mother works to suppress the rising threat at their borders. But are they merely buying time or saving their empire?

The Counterclockwise Heart was a fun and endearing novel; I loved every minute of it. I can also say, with complete sincerity, that I wish this book had been around when I was younger. A younger me would have devoured this book and honestly could have used something like this in her life.

Alphonsus’ story is by far my favorite, though I was curious about the statue and everything she foretold (of course). I can easily see different readers picking up different elements as their favorite bits. That’s arguably one of the many positives about this book.

Esme’s story is the perfect balance for everything Alphonsus is going through. Her tale felt more straightforward (at times), but that helped to counter all of the questions I had about everything else happening in this world.

Long story short, The Counterclockwise Heart is a delightful read. Any young fantasy reader would undoubtedly be captivated by this tale, as a lot of imagination is stuffed into these pages.

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