Thank you so much for the arc!

Wow I when I started this book I thought I was going to get a simple but fun adventure story. That was delivered but there was also much depth. The author weaved in important messages about caring for the environment and the consequences of not doing so. (Studio Ghibli much??? And I mean that in the best way, in case that isn’t clear.) I love to learn and think while reading so that was so appreciated.

All of the characters were a joy to read about and I loved the illustrations that were included. I would have been utterly obsessed with this book as a kid and hope there’s more to come!

I haven't read something as fun as this book in a while.

It was an adventure, a delight, characters so well thought out, you understood them, felt for them, even the antagonist.

It ticks all the boxes a middle grade adventure should tick.

The characters were well thought out, each unique and with great purpose to the story. Everyone has a backstory that is easy to understand for that age group and makes characters absorbable enough without too complex a decision making involved.

One of best parts about this adventure were the highs and lows of the story that, while keeping the tension tight, also gave the reader a chance to breathe. Not in a long time have I come across a book that keeps the highs and lows of a story soooooo well balanced.

The story is full of hope in difficult times and presents it through a budding character. A tiny chickadee who barely ran with his life from a war stormed village to find unusual shelter in the home of a master, a mystical mysterious animal finds a tutelage. As much it is the story of Twig, the chickadee, it is also the story of his mentor. And while the story, as a whole is an adventure and life of Twig who has to stand against the tyrant crow ruler, it is also a story of a group of performers who go on to play a very important role in the tussle between good and bad.

The story also has a subtle inclination of- not all heroes hold swords which I love within fantasy and adventure genre, so I naturally fell hard for this one.

The plot is ever moving taking us through the world as the journey of performers continue and the themes are both, big and small, coming in waves.

If you love animal point of views, or animal warriors, adventure themes, unlikely heroes, growing characters, or love a wide variety in your characters, read The Unraveling.

Read this book if you love the movies The Secret of Nimh or Ferngully!
I’m just finishing the book and the instant I began the book I fell in love! The story doesn’t waste any time jumping right into the action, and the way the author writes the scenes depicting events is 10/10 masterful, age appropriate, yet even as an adult I’m enjoying it! I felt like I was right there with Twig in the beginning experiencing everything he was.
The same goes for the traveling entertainers: Boz and the sugar gliders Ayu & Eca; I think the twins are my favorites so far the best.
The magical lore and the “bad guys” plot is captivating & heartbreaking all at the same time; it is what really cemented those nostalgic Nimh vibes.
I’ll definitely be getting this for my classroom!

This book gives all the feels. Period.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Authors for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Immediately, I had nostalgic vibes of Dark Crystal and Secret of Nimh, and at the very beginning of the book, I fell in love!

My little brother Andy highly recommended this, and as a librarian, I had to check it out. I loved it, and can't wait to see where it goes next! It's Middle Grade appropriate yet the story, chapter transitions and development are sophisticated and compelling. Even as an adult, I’m loving it!

I was right there with Twig, the traveling entertainers, and the myriad of characters that make the heart of the story.
The magical lore and the “bad guys” plot is captivating and heartbreaking at the same time, as that is how ideological conflict goes...each has their own trauma and perspective.

I was engrossed in all of the themes and references while also being captivated by the struggles at the heart of the story. Very timely. Very important. Five stars for being so tightly written and compelling to all age of readers and still a Middle Grade fantasy fiction.

Read. Follow. Share.

This was a super entertaining read that I think is expertly aimed for its middlegrade audience, while still being greatly enjoyable for adults.

It gave me some light ‘dungeons and dragons’-vibes as our ragtag group of heroes assemble and journey to save the queen from the evil antagonistic force. Along the way we meet many both fun and interesting new characters that either aid or stand in the way of the heroes path forward – it doesn’t waste much time delving particularly deep into these identities but rather keeps the action flowing at a fast and engaging pace.

The different perspectives provided great insight into different aspects of the story at large and helped give a nuanced view of the moral dilemma at hand. A corrupted soul shaped by her trauma – taking power with good intentions, but ultimately letting it consume her and becoming what she had once fought against. Forcing us to evaluate whether an entire group can be responsible for individuals' bad behaviour.

Overall a super fun and also sweet story about courage in spite of fear, and fighting for what you believe in. I wouldn’t hesitate to give this to any child I know thatI would wish to grant a great reading experience.

A dark, richly imagined animal fantasy that immediately brought to mind the classics I grew up with—Watership Down, The Secret of NIMH, Redwall, and Guardians of Ga’Hoole. If you loved those, you’ll feel right at home here. The worldbuilding is intricate and the tone is more mature than most current middle-grade or YA animal stories, which I appreciated.

There’s something about the structure—quests, allies, shifting perspectives—that occasionally felt reminiscent of a video game, in a way that added momentum rather than taking away from the storytelling. I especially enjoyed the lore, the political undercurrents, and the way the authors gave depth to the crow society without overexplaining.

This was a great world to have an adventure in, the characters and settings were clear in my mind from the beginning.

I like this middle grade story.i like the writing style, the plot and the characters were amazing. I got really into the story I actually like the mystery aspect of it the actual mystery had me intrigued for most of the book and never was able to see any twists coming.i like who can't see them co.i would definitely read more from this author in the future.

The world-building in The Unravelling is exquisite, and the character development is fantastic. The pacing felt a little slower than I usually like, but it always moved forward — never stalling or dragging. The concept of imagining our world without us in it is absolutely fascinating. I also loved the strong good-versus-evil feel that runs through the story.

The ending makes it clear that the authors intend to write at least a sequel, if not a whole series — and I hope that’s true. If this were a standalone, it would feel incomplete, but knowing there’s more to come makes me confident that the blank spots and backstory gaps will be filled in later.

Interestingly, much of the book feels almost like reading two different stories set in the same world — and I actually liked that duality. It gave the story layers and variety. The book reminded me a bit of Animal Farm and Watership Down — not because it’s especially gory (it isn’t), but because it’s a little dark, thoughtful, and deeply allegorical.

Even though it’s centered on animals and features somewhat cartoony illustrations, it never felt too young for me as an adult reader. I’d probably place it around upper middle-grade or younger YA in tone, but it’s layered enough that adults will appreciate it too.

I’d definitely recommend The Unravelling for animal lovers, fantasy fans, and readers who enjoy dystopian worlds. There’s violence and evil here, but nothing overly graphic or disturbing. I think most middle-grade readers could handle it just fine — and get swept up in the excitement.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I think you should pick it up.

I was drawn to pick this book up because of the cover art. I love a cute book with animal creatures as protagonists. Also, since this is middle grade, it is light hearted with good lessons, courage, friendship, and adventure. It says it is book 1 in a series, so will be looking for the next when it releases.

Twig, a young chickadee, finds himself running after his village is attacked. In his flight from danger, he is injured and he finds himself suddenly wrapped up in a journey to prevent the past from happening again.

I absolutely agree with the thought that this could be a great read for fans of Redwall. I fell this one isn't as "epic" but it is no less entertaining. There is a misfit group working to save the queen from evil forces, and the side characters are fun and interesting. So cute and enjoyable! I m ready for book number 2!

Keith Ward, Karl Buechner, and Jeremy Mueller's The Unraveling is a breathtaking, five-star fantasy that absolutely lives up to its comparisons to classics like Redwall and Watership Down. This book doesn't just tell an adventure story; it builds an entire, dangerously rich world; the Woodland Realm, where even the smallest hero, like the chickadee Twig, can change destiny.

The story hits the ground running with pulse-pounding action and never lets up. The characters are brilliantly drawn, from the philosophical bard Scarecrow and the hilarious tumblers Ayu & Eca, to the terrifying Fortress Crows. The narrative successfully weaves thrilling rebellion and high-stakes adventure with deep, important allegorical themes about environmental responsibility and judging others.

The emotional core, the rich lore, and the non-stop momentum make this an instantly captivating read for all ages. I am already desperate for the next installment!

My kids found it very enjoyable and engaging, was a good shift from usual picture books and such for them so having a fun set of characters and such kept them interested.

This was an exciting adventure and a great middle grade fantasy. I loved the characters and their connection to one another. There was also a great setup for background to the current events.

Thank you NetGalley, for providing me with this arc, in exchange for my honest review.

Although I’m not the biggest fan of the cover (too many characters on it, in my opinion), I do think it’s cool and the depiction of one of the evil crows couldn’t have been done better!!

The story starts in the middle of an action scene, which was really exciting and made me want to keep reading.

There are multiple points of view, which I always prefer and I think this story really needed it. I probably wouldn’t have been able to understand the how and why of what happened and why certain animals did what they did, as well with only one POV. So, well done!

This is an epic story with animals instead of humans but still, it did have a lot in common with Lord of the Rings, which I love and maybe the authors do too.

Twig is a small Chickadee, fleeing from dangerous crows, in the middle of a storm. These crows are Fortress crows, who attacked Twig’s home, The Agrestic. Twig tries to stay with the town’s survivors but he gets separated from them and is apparently the bird they are looking for and they almost get him.. Twig ends up crashing into a tattered scarecrow, leading to him meeting the good and powerful crow who lives inside it! By the way, I absolutely loved the exploration of its magical and cozy home! Secret passageways included of course! And some very unexpected and cute inhabitants.

Next, we follow a bard and its cute but feisty, acrobatic companions. They are also running from some animals and actually end up in a really cool place too. A place where the story really takes of and unexpected companions start the adventure of their lifetimes!

The whole story is beautifully written, with some vivid illustrations. There are a lot of characters but they are introduced gradually so it never gets confusing. It’s one big adventure that never gets boring but I did have a hard time, especially in the beginning, to imagine birds holding weapons. I did love how many different characters, with different views of the world, there were. A world where humans no longer exist and are being regarded as pure evil by some. But delusional, war mongering tyrant crows aren’t any better.

There were some pacing issues and in the end I felt like I read many more pages than I actually did. And some brutal scenes and too difficult words made me wonder if those should be included in a book for children.

This had many amazing characters and I think this book will be enjoyed by children, old children like me included ;), who love epic adventures with unexpected heroes.