The Lotus Flower Champion was bizarre and interesting, familiar and new, and a blend of genres. The settings were very picturesque. I felt the story was easy to get into and that Alaia was a very compelling character. The main character, Alaia, battles Obsessive Compulsion Disorder and is having to come to terms with her dear mother's health deteriorating due to cancer. The Lotus Flower Champion was well written, and I would recommend it to other young adult readers who enjoy bizarre reads with some magical elements with a secluded island as one of the main settings.

The Lotus Flower Champion felt like it was inspired by Twelve Blind Princesses and Caraval by Stephanie Garber, mixed with the hit TV Show Survivor and some more Thai Mythology.

Content Guide: Death. Grief. Horroresque Elements.

★★★
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This book was described as 'Squid Games meets Peter Pan', but both components didn't even show up in the book. A bit of a slow start, but after you get past the beginning there was a lot of action. This was inspired by elements from Thai folktales, which was what made me want to read this book in the first place. This was very predictable in my opinion, you would think that there would be a lot of high stakes with the book being described as 'Squid Games meets Peter Pan', but the stakes weren't really all that high. I'm not exactly sure how to describe this feeling I got, but like at a scene where you think someone was actually going to be killed off, you just knew they weren't going to die. A lot of the plot twists were fairly predictable.

It's interesting to read about a character like Alaia, who has OCD; the authors did a really great job on portraying Alaia's emotions and struggles on how it felt to have OCD. Meanwhile a lot of the other characters like Rae, Lola, Kit and such, didn't have much of a personality... it was more like they were just there but didn't contribute much.

The ending felt kinda rushed, everything kinda happened in the last 10%. I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel, but the epilogue felt like it was setting up for one (or it could just be an open ending).

Not too big of a fan with the writing, but I think it's probably because it's a middle grade read. Some parts made me cringe, but other than that it was alright. Overall this was a rather enjoyable fast paced read, but pretty forgettable in my opinion.

🪷 thank you entangled publishing for the e-arc through netgalley!

"The Lotus Flower Champion" is a standalone ya contemporary fantasy, inspired by Thai mythology, written by Pintip Dunn and Love Dunn.

Compelling, fast-paced and dynamic book that kept me highly entertained. A good mix of action, Thai mythology and family dynamics, sprinkled with a bit of romance. I don't consider it a perfect story, some elements didn't convince me, but overall I still enjoyed it.

I liked the writing a lot! Simple, effervescent and light, accompanied by vivid descriptions, kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. The fast pace, combined with the presence of short chapters, enticed me to keep going, making me reach the end without almost realizing it. In my opinion, the author did an excellent job in portraying the emotions and turmoil of the protagonist, so much so that I felt them quite a bit and empathized with her.

The plot proceeds briskly, quickly and smoothly, full of action and adventure. After a slower, introductory beginning, the story accelerates and becomes a whirlwind of events, at times a bit too frenetic. I admit that I perceived several plot holes, several convenient situations, and a rushed ending, but overall I was convinced. I found the numerous anecdotes and stories regarding Thai mythology and folklore really interesting! In addition, the story deals with important issues such as OCD and the presence of a parent with terminal cancer, in a way that I found quite intense. On more than one occasion I confess to being moved and shedding a few tears!

I loved Alaia, the protagonist with her single first person pov! Alaia is a 17-year-old girl, daughter of two doctors, on vacation in Thailand for what should be a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. A last wish for her dying mother, suffering from terminal cancer. Alaia wants to make the experience perfect; she wants to make her mother smile so she can give her happy moments. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for them. Alaia is an extremely complex and tormented character, whose characterization I enjoyed so much. Alaia suffers from a strong and insidious OCD, which often makes her life really difficult. I appreciated the way it was portrayed, the attention behind the various details. Seriously, I was moved by Alaia and cheered for her! Also I cried over the relationship with her mother, painfully sweet and intense.

The rest of the secondary characters seemed rather shallow to me. I found them flat, poorly analyzed, albeit functional to the story. There is a romance component, never dominant over the plot, which unfortunately didn't convey much to me.

All in all, this is a fast, light, and engaging read, not without its flaws, which I recommend maybe when you are looking for a quick, easy-going book!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tale set against the backdrop of beautiful Thailand. Alaia's unexpected adventure, triggered by a boating mishap, sets the stage for a unique plot.

What I found captivating about the book:

1. The author's vivid descriptions transported me to the enchanting Thai islands, making me reminisce about my own travels.

2. The choice to have a Thai heroine, Alaia, added authenticity to the story, and her multi-dimensional character, complete with OCD, provided a fresh perspective on a character's journey.

3. The first-person narrative style engrossed me in Alaia's world, creating a strong connection with her experiences.

4. The book's infusion of adventure and romance made for an enjoyable, well-rounded plot.

What didn't quite resonate with me:

1. The story had a slow start, which required some patience to fully engage with the plot.

2. As a reader not particularly interested in Thai mythology, I found some parts of the story less engaging.

If you have a penchant for tales that blend adventure and romance against a unique cultural backdrop, this book could be a worthwhile read. However, be prepared for a slower start, and if Thai mythology doesn't pique your interest, that aspect may be less appealing.

This was pitched as “Peter pan meets squid games” and it certainly wasn’t that. I appreciated the honest and forthright portrayal of OCD but a lot of the other components of this story were a pretty big miss for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I'm not sure the description of Peter pan meets squid games is quite right, especially since squid games is very adult themed and this is a ya novel. I liked what I read, but think it could use different marketing.

Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for the arc copy. All of these comments are my own.

When I got this arc it said it was like Squid Games meets Peter Pan but this book gave no resemblance to either of those. It was very much just Thailand Folktales, which wasn’t necessarily bad. I don’t know much about the Thailand culture but I did find this folktale fun and interesting to read about.

The story was good but the action was a little underwhelming for me. Although I did enjoy it for the most part; I did just want more from it. There were parts that made me sad, laugh, and happy which I think great for a book to do.

I do think a lot of YA readers will enjoy this!

3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wow this was such a neat story!

I loved reading about the Thai mythology and seeing it incorporated into this story. I also liked the family dynamics at play.

And the fact that this was written by a team? Couldn’t even tell! And the fact it was a mother-daughter duo makes the story even more special I think.