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Apr 05, 2017forbesrachel rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Girl who Drank the Moon is a magical journey of growth, accepting responsibility, the importance of thinking critically, and love. Luna's tale begins with her "sacrifice". Every year in the Protectorate, the youngest child is to be left in the woods for an evil witch. Things are not what they seem though, for Xan is actually kind. She doesn't understand why anyone would abandon a baby, so she takes each one to the other side of the volcano-based forest, feeding them starlight along the way. To Luna though, she feeds the moon. The young girl becomes enmagicked, and a danger to herself and others. Xan seals her powers, and raises her, along with the poem-loving, origin-entity Glerk, and small, gleeful dragon Fyrian. Unbeknownst to them all, Luna is the hope of the next generation, offering the previous one a chance to mend. We gradually learn more about the past and current situation through a variety of voices. No one is entirely good or evil, they are human and therefore bad things happen to them, and they make mistakes, even when their intentions are good. This is notable because one of the story's main themes is sorrow, and even though sad events happen on a regular basis, they never affect the overarching feeling of fairytale happiness. Barnhill's fairytale world has qualities that make it feel distinct from others. Magic is fluid and natural, the place features a bog and a volcano, and characters don't fit any stereotypes. For those needing a feel good read, definitely try The Girl who Drank the Moon, it is full of heart.