Creatures of the In Between follows Prince Jin has always wanted to get his grandmother's approval and needs to find a creature companion before his thirteenth birthday to have a claim to the throne. Creatures haven't been seen in his kingdom for ages so he has to travel to Whisper Island and has to go on a quest to find his companion.

The characters in this story are fun and Jin in particular grows a lot throughout the whole story. It is very concisely written and was a fun adventure to follow. I enjoyed the relationships that Jin develops with all the characters in the book and how he becomes just Jin, not the crown prince to reshape what he thought about the world.

Stands out as a superbly crafted fantasy novel. I admit that I felt a little funny about the line of male leaders being alluded to as good governors of the land while the grandmother, the one female leader, appears to have been corrupted by power.

On the other hand, pretty much everything else about this story is splendid. It's detailed without being confusing and moves at a robust pace without detracting from character development (and, despite the grandmother's role, does contain strong girls and women in its cast of characters).

Note: be wary of the occasional depiction of animal abuse, especially within the first 70 pages. I was upset by these scenes but nevertheless glad to have persisted through to the end.

Thnk you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy.

This middle grade book was such a fun book and really recommended. I loved the dragon and the plot.

I wasn't ready to fall in love with a MIDDLE GRADE book this dang hard! 😭💖

The description wasn't joking when it compared the book to Princess Mononoke and How to Train your Dragon. Throw that in a blender, add Asian mythology, blend on high, and then serve with a side of conspiracy.

Jin is determined to be seated on his throne, and does whatever he can to secure that future. His companion is the only thing standing in the way of that, so he leaves to fix that issue. Unfortunately, he wasn't prepared for what that would entail or the fact that people were being less than honest with that particular tradition. But experiencing the wonder surrounding this tradition, he grows even more determined and matures ever so slightly, showing a glimmer of the ruler he might become.

Creatures of the In Between by Cindy Lin. HarperCollins Childrens, 2023.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.

Rating: 1-5 (5 being a starred review) 5
Genre: Fantasy Middle Grade Novel

What I Liked: Jin is to be the future emperor of the Samtei. By his thirteenth birthday, he is supposed to obtain a monster companion to solidify his place on the throne, or else he will lose his birthright. But with his grandmother as empress dowager who refuses to teach him anything about magical beasts and locks him in the palace for trying, Jin is forced to defy the rules. He journeys to Whisper Island himself, a dangerous place where all the mystical creatures are kept for preservation - such as the graceful kirin and the fierce piyao. Jin’s excited to finally meet his monstermate, but also nervous: What if he can’t form a bond? What if his grandmother tries to stop him? Racing against the clock, Jin must learn the true nature of monsters and prove that he has what it takes to be the next emperor of the Samtei.

The Creatures of the In-Between is an imaginative middle grade fantasy, full of rich folklore based on East and South East Asian mythology. Jin is an intelligent and headstrong character who does not let others dictate his life while also being humble enough to accept and learn from his mistakes. The worldbuilding is full of wonderful legendary creatures who each have their own personality or traits that make them unique from each other. The side characters are all supportive, well-written, and bring life to the narrative, while Jin’s iron-fisted and uptight grandmother serves as a perfect antagonist to his flexible and defiant nature. All characters are of East and South East Asian heritage.

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Who Would I Recommend This To: Kids who like fantasy books, mythic and folkloric creatures and beasts, and East and South East Asian mythology.

Review Date: April 30, 2023
Posted to Goodreads: May 10, 2023

The Empire of the Three Realms has always been protected by an emperor and their monstermate, fantastical creatures of the in between, and Crown Prince Jin can't wait for the day he'll get to meet his own monster. It's been many years since real monsters were seen in the palace (except for the his grandmother's bad-tempered phoenix) and Jin is starting to worry he won't be able to find one before his 13th birthday. Which means he'll never be able to ascend the throne! When disobeying his grandmother, the ruling Empress Dowager, bars Jin from ever going to Whisper Island where monsters are said to still roam, Jin decides it's time to prove once and for all he is worthy of his future.

I think my favorite part of this book was getting to learn about different fantastical creatures from East and Southeast Asian cultures and the different powers and abilities each one is said to have. And I liked that at the end there was a bestiary that went in to a bit more detail about the creatures of the in between and their origins in our world.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

There are an increasing number of fantasy works out in the last few years featuring Asian-based worlds and myths. Cindy Lin's newest fantasy adventure looks to be the first in a series, and it was a great deal of fun to dive into. New inventions of mythical creatures that kids can have fun imagining, a good dollop of humor and heart combined with adventure and thrills. The outcome is not unexpected, but the conclusion is satisfying--with many questions and loose threads in place for further books. I'll look forward to talking this one up with my fantasy readers.

I really enjoyed the character growth and of course, all the creatures. I feel like the last 20% of the book rushed and didn't quite meet the level of writing of the first 80%. I wonder if the author realized she was running out of pages and felt the need to wrap up quickly. Or it could be that much of it I was expecting/anticipating so I rushed. Regardless, a solid middle grade fantasy.

4.5
What I love about the Creatures in the Between is the Asian mythology, lore, and bestiary and male main character.

A great adventure for young readers of an impatient young prince who needs to find his monstermate before he turns thirteen or he won't be emperor. He is in the care of his grandmother who has a great Phoenix.
The so-called monsters are very rare and the people are starting to manipulate the tradition. I love that we get to experience so many creatures. Would love illustrations along with the short bestiary at the end of the book.
He runs away to search the island (Whisper Island) where the monsters live only to learn that there are not monsters, as people call them. The creatures are amazing and they all have their unique traits, leading Jin to grow up, and learn more about himself too. He is a rebel and will fight for and beside the creatures when they are threatened by humans.
My favorite part of the book was between 60% to 80%.

Cons:
This novel has a few problems with pacing and order (repetitions )laying the start and giving us a sensation of stepping back and moving forward and then back again. For example when we are ready to move forward with the story but it contradicts us (Jin breaks the rule by going to the festival then returns to the palace and breaks the rule again by leaving for the island)
It doesn't upset me as much but slows down my enthusiasm and reading.

Has a great studio ghibli vibe.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed Jin's story and how he overcame what weighed him down, with his Grandmother. This was such a great book!

I loved the book, Jin's journey to find a creature to bond with takes the reader on an adventure that shows off not only the world itself but also the many magical creatures that populate it. Full of adventure and heart this is a great read if you love magical creatures.

Thank you for providing me a copy of this Galley!

I loved the story and it was fun!! A fun read!