Summer in Orcus

An odd but appealing mix of whimsy and horror, turning portal fantasy tropes on their heads. Baba Yaga, the ultimate witch of Russian folklore, is the quest-giver. Summer's home life is shaped by her mother's severe anxiety. A wolf isn't a threat, but a staunch ally (and a were-creature who turns into a migratory house at night -- you thought Baba Yaga's house was the only one that walked around?). A lich refuses to move on until he finishes his to-read list. Geese are fierce warriors (OK, that part's realistic, except these geese carry spears too), which is fortunate, because 11-year-old Summer herself isn't going to be able to take down the mysterious Queen-In-Chains causing the rot that's slowly destroying Orcus all by herself...or is she?

It's a bit less cohesive than some of Vernon/Kingfisher's more recent YA/older kids' novels, partly because it was originally a serial and partly because it's a very kitchen-sink kind of fantasy world where anything goes, from an officious but kind-hearted goofy birds to creepy spider-horses

(Cross-posted from my website)

There are so many things i want to say about this book, but i don't know where to start, so excuse me if i ramble. I cried, a lot. But in a good way - not happy, necessarily, but, the story, the writing, everything just so perfectly put together. And, listen, sad things happen, but good too, and hope and,... it was good. I read a review or a blurb somewhere that said that usually, adventures really aren't all that fun when you are in the middle of them, and that's true here but Summer keeps going even though she doesn't really want to be a hero. And speaking of Summer, she's so relatable, and practical, (and genre aware) and ... real, and adult in ways kids shouldn't have to be, but so many actual non-fictional kids are. There were a few parts of the book that i thought were perhaps too...real for a kids book, but then maybe the problem is that the books that the story is riffing off of were never truly real enough. I don't think I'm doing a good enough job conveying how wonderful this book is, but considering i kind of just want to flail around and tell you to just go read it and you will understand, i suppose this will have to do. its so hard for me to articulate how perfect Ursula Vernon's writing is, but it is, and you should go read this book, now. (I feel the same way about Digger, you should all go read that too.)