The Firefly Crown - Yxavel Magno Diño

An unlucky sorcerer must learn to wield her insect magic in this charming middle grade fantasy that's perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures and Witchlings.

In the empire, magic determines your fate. But Yumi is tired of being a failed Cricket. Their magic is lousy and boring. She dreams instead of the sparkling magic of Fireflies, whose powers rival the sun. If only she could harness her talents like other magicians. . . For now, Yumi is ignored by even the crickets who are supposed to follow her spells.

Then, Yumi gets a chance to prove herself sooner than expected when all sorcerers are summoned for the princess's coronation. But everything falls apart when the Firefly Crown is stolen, leaving the empire defenseless against the Ghost Swarm, a horde of undead bugs. Worse, Yumi is blamed. Suddenly this lowly Cricket is the empire's most wanted. To clear her name and protect her loved ones, Yumi must find the real thief. But can a Cricket really save the day?

Yxavel Magno Diño is the author of The Serpent Rider. She was born in the Philippines before moving to Australia at a young age, where she soon discovered that almost nobody there knew how to say her name. To make up for it, she spent her time daydreaming about fantasy worlds filled with characters who had more unusual names than she did. Now, she writes stories about her Filipino heritage and its fantastical folklore. When she's not writing, you can find her drinking copious amounts of black tea or getting lost in the pages of a book.
ymdino.com
@yxavel_writes

“Infused with Filipino folklore, this fantasy is full of action and adventure. . . . A page-turner set in an intriguing world.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Reminiscent of the darker-themed Miyazaki films, this is an exciting. . . underdog narrative that will appeal to fans of manga like Fullmetal Alchemist and also welcome newcomers to the fantasy genre.” —Booklist

“This amusing read is bound to be of interest to a budding fantasy reader and offers a unique treat for the middle grade entomophile.” —BCCB

“An inventive magic system leaves room for readers' imaginations to run wild, and Yumi's cheeky, self-effacing first-person narration provides an accessible entry point for considering complex topics such as class differences and personal loyalties.” —Publishers Weekly

“Shimmering with themes of family and friendship. . . . Readers will root for the brave and spunky Tani throughout the many twists and turns of her story!” —Katie Zhao, author of the Dragon Warrior and Winnie Zeng series, on THE SERPENT RIDER

“Action-packed and splendidly enchanting. . . . An absolute treat for lovers of dragons and fantastical beasts.” —Caris Avendaño Cruz, author of MARIKIT AND THE OCEAN OF STARS, on THE SERPENT RIDER

“A spellbinding tale of destiny, courage and friendship. Yxavel Magno Diño masterfully weaves Filipino mythology into a thrilling page turner full of plot twists that will leave readers wanting more.” —Jenna Yoon, author of the Lia Park series, on THE SERPENT RIDER

“An empathic and endearing story of friendship, courage, and sisterly love, The Serpent Rider will pull on your heartstrings, but in the same breath, get your pulse pounding like the Great Bakunawa thundering against her magical cage.” —Gail D. Villanueva, author of MY FATE ACCORDING TO THE BUTTERFLY and the Lulu Sinagtala and the Tagalog Gods series, on THE SERPENT RIDER