Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A fun sequel! I think I preferred the first one but I still did enjoy the magical NYC exploration--especially the huge magical library.

Thanks to NetGalley & Inkyard Press for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fun sequel! I think I preferred the first one but I still did enjoy the magical NYC exploration--especially the huge magical library. Cannistra does a great job with disabled representation with the character of Moss having Crohn’s and dealing with it throughout the book. I really like that everyone was accommodating and supportive of them and never made it an issue. I wish the book was longer!

Not quite as good as the original Perhaps part of the problem is that Giada has overcome the original problem of the first book--not being allowed to be an magical veterinarian. I have hopes for the third volume though.

I really enjoyed getting to know Giada the Healer through this book, it had everything that I was hoping for in a sequel to How to Heal a Gryphon. It does a great job in creating a great fantasy element and I enjoyed the mystery element of this book. Meg Cannistra writes a great concept for the fantasy genre and I can’t wait for more from her.

I really loved the first in this series and enjoyed this one as well. I mean with a unicorn on the cover how could you go wrong!?

I enjoyed the different types of mystical and mythological creatures that were included. I hadn’t heard of some and had fun looking them up and learning more about them.

I also liked that Moss’a character was dealing with the recent diagnosis of Crohn’s and was figuring out how to make some changes in order to feel more himself again. I could see that it would really mean something to someone that has Crohn’s but it could also help someone dealing with someone similar or having consideration for someone they know that is.

The story takes us around NJ and NYC in search of a missing unicorn and trying to uncover who is responsible. They meet some interesting characters and creatures along the way. I loved the Irving School and the library especially. It had me wishing I could attend and that we got to spend more time there than we did in the book.

I also enjoyed that the Stregha del Malocchio were a whole different thing in this book. Olde Yorke was a whole different place and the Stregha were different as well. It led to some interesting moments about prejudice and preconceived notions which I thought were good.

The one downside of this book was Giada unfortunately. I found in the last book that she was plucky and sassy and brave and kind but this book she veered more into impatient, rude, and dismissive of other’s opinions and feelings unless reminded by a friend to be more polite. It felt like in the first book there was more body positive parts as well but this seems to have been forgotten in this book and was only mentioned twice that I can think of and one was about applying anti chafing powder so her thighs wouldn’t rub which felt off to me.

Overall I enjoyed this cute little book and look forward to reading what comes next for Giada as she travels the world to spread the word about the danger that the Stregha and the world are facing.

I received an advanced reader copy of the ebook from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars!

My 4th grader and I enjoyed this novel about a teenager (Giada) who follows her dreams and moves to New York to apprentice as a "magical veterinarian." She becomes involved with a mysterious case of a missing unicorn and the book follows her adventures to save this majestic animal.

Big thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and author Meg Cannistra for an advanced reader copy to review!