The Serpent Rider

In a fantasy world inspired by Filipino mythology, 12-year-old Tanikala is impatient to join the ranks of the Serpent Riders as the chosen one, destined to stop the Great Bakunawa from devouring the moon. But there's a hitch--in her Kalinawan village, every Serpent Rider must rear and bond with their own elemental serpent, and Tani's egg still hasn't hatched. Frustrated by her peers' training advancement and anguished by the most recent monster attack on her village, Tani makes a dangerous deal with a mysterious stranger who gives her a serpent of shadow and ash. At first, Tani is delighted by the success she and her serpent have on the training field. Yet when Tani's younger sister is kidnapped by the stranger as payment, Tani realizes the price for glory is more than she's willing to pay. With friends Kiri and Bato, Tani strikes out into the wilderness, encountering terrifying and legendary creatures on a quest for her sister and, hopefully, redemption. Meanwhile, the Great Bakunawa's foretold reappearance draws closer, adding tension to this high-octane adventure that incorporates Filipino language and folklore, coalescing in an immersive debut by Diño. Ages 8--11. Agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative. (Sept.)

A young warrior faces horrifying beasts and evil magic in order to rescue her sister. Twelve years ago, when Tanikala, the daughter of a great warrior, was born, a prophecy said she was destined to defeat the Great Bakunawa, a giant sea serpent who will devour the last moon and leave their world in darkness. Tani is training to become a Serpent Rider, a warrior with a personal flying elemental serpent. Unfortunately, Tani's bakunawa egg hasn't hatched yet. Without her serpent, she isn't sure how she'll protect those she loves, like her younger sister, Ligaya. Then an impatient Tani meets a woman in a vision who says she can craft a bakunawa for her. After a deadly monster attack on the village, Tani, tired of feeling helpless, makes a deal with the strange woman. Her new bakunawa is incredible, but she soon discovers that the price she must pay is her beloved sister. Desperate to save Ligaya, Tani enters the dangerous forest, faces beasts and ghouls, and finds unexpected allies and foes. But time is running out before the Great Bakunawa's return. Based on Filipino folklore and legend, Diño's debut is an action-packed fantasy filled with twists and turns. Readers will relate to Tani's struggle to figure out her identity and find her strength while living up to her destiny and her father's reputation. Tani's beautiful but frightening world vividly incorporates many different tales, monsters, and creatures. An engaging adventure full of Filipino magic.(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.