Queer, LGBTQUIA+, Kidlit, Children’s books, Fairy Tale.
BLURB
When a young Prince and a farm boy meet in the forest, a growing friendship between them blossoms into love. However, when the Queen re-marries, her sinister new husband seeks control of the enchanted forest and the land the farm boy’s family are responsible for protecting.
In a Kingdom where all are considered equal regardless of what they look like or who they love, Promised Land is a brand new fairytale about friendship, responsibility, adventure and love.
Written by Adam Reynolds & Chaz Harris it features 32 stunning illustrations by Christine Luiten & Bo Moore sure to delight kids young and old.
“Has all of the elements of a great children’s book; adventure, an evil villain, a brave hero and even a cute animal sidekick. It also happens to have two male characters that fall in love.” ~ The Odyssey
REVIEW
I don’t often review kids books, which when I think about it is odd with as many of them as I read with my two symbionts. We usually read two picture books daily or a middle grade novel weekly together. I have a love for kids books, but honestly? They pretty much tend to be the same, so I don’t review them much.
This one though, it’s so worth the work of writing up the review and putting it up on my page.
I’m in tears. I didn’t know I needed this book so badly.
OMG. I’m sitting here crying with the rep I needed to see. That I need my kids to see. I bought the book after learning of it when the author shared this article with me.
The author had given me a boost of support because I’m of mixed feelings in giving up querying. Regardless that I’m relieved at being done with the slog, I was feeling sad that my BLOODBOUND won’t get the exposure it needs and deserves (for own voices rep of demisexuality, gray aromanticism and touch aversion.) That despite how moved demisexual readers are by the story, it won’t be eligible for many awards because it won’t be traditionally published.
They reminded me that it’s not why we write these stories. (They’re so right, we write these stories for others like us, and I needed to hear that.)
I sat here enchanted for the short time it took me to read THE PROMISED LAND.
Aside from how gorgeous the art is, the story is captivating.
Not only is it a world where it doesn’t matter if one is queer or cis/allo/het, but there’s on the page rep of two boys falling in love, and having a HEA, and it’s normal. It’s beautiful. There’s also on the page PoC rep as well, and that too is beautiful. I needed this book, I didn’t know how much I needed it until I read it.
If you’re queer, or your kids are, go get this book and read it. I certainly will be, again and again.
SCORES
Have to do this a bit differently for a kids book, so bear with the change, please.
5 stars for the artwork, it would be ten if I could.
5 stars on the story, again, ten if my rating system allowed it.
4.5 stars on the craft of the story. I think it needed a page or two more to smooth the flow of the story, but it’s written beautifully and there are no mistakes. It’s likely just me being persnickity. (Me? Naw… couldn’t happen.)
Still well worth the cost of the purchase, this one will be a read/reread again and again. (I really should’ve bought the hardcover, but I didn’t want to wait to read it!)
You can buy THE PROMISED LAND at the following places (I got my copy via the author’s website, where they get more of the profit, but it’s also available on Amazon as well.)
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