Ellinore accidentally became an adventurer at 13 and has since spent years completing task for the king and queen in exchange for gold. She's finally gathered enough to retire with her family in a beach house and live the peaceful life she's dreamed of. Except her twin lets pride and alcohol get the best of him and he's promised to get an impossible item from the mythical Elder Beast in just a few days or the other guys get his heart. Desperate to save her brother, Ellinore sets off with him and her royal rival on an adventure that's pretty much guaranteed to fail unless she can learn to rely on others and be open about who she truly is.

It's not genre-defining or anything, but it is a fun read that's full of magic and excellent relationships. My main complaint is that the stakes are supposed to be high and the danger great, but there is a distinct lack of rush or danger. I feel like it's because Lukens puts all the emphasis on the relationships and how the characters relate to each other and how Ellinore realizes that she can be her authentic self, which is fantastic in a YA fantasy, but not the best in Fantasy. The whole point of the story is Ellinore finding the courage to tell her truth and accept that adventuring doesn't have to be all about violence, and that part of the story is perfectly presented.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for the magical read!