I know I don't read a lot of middle grade stories to begin with, but I'm trying to change that and read at least 10 before the end of the year. I was mesmerized by The Republic Of Birds as soon as I saw the cover, and when I read the blurb and saw the mention of Russian folklore I thought this story would be a perfect fit. What I didn't expect is that I would end up having mixed thoughts instead... I'll try to explain why below.

First of all I have to say that I love the idea behind The Republic Of Birds. The winter setting in high fantasy Tsaretsvo, the Republic Of Birds, the discord between humans, birds and yagas, the Russian folklore references... It definitely set the right tone for this story and it was the perfect setting and backdrop for Olga's story. BUT. I was kind of left wanting for more when it came to the worldbuilding as a whole. We get some descriptions, and we get glimpses of the different parts of Tsaretsvo, but I would have loved to have more as some parts seemed rushed while other parts were basically info-dumps and stopped the flow of the story. The second both applies to the excerpts of a history book included between chapters and certain scenes in the book (for example the whole Bleak Steppe setting). I really feel like the worldbuilding and story could have been so much more with a little more development, although I guess long books with more descriptions might not work as well with a middle grade audience...

As for the characters... I'm not sure what to make of them. While I really liked the idea of the magic behind the yagas as well as Olga's magic, I would have loved to see it developed a little more. I felt like the short time in Bleak Steppe was used as an excuse to rush things and continue with Olga's journey as quickly as possible, ignoring the potential of a slower route. I also found it a bit hard to connect to Olga in the first place. Sure, she is the true heroine of this story, and I could really appreciate her love of maps as well as her magic, but her character came over a bit flat and the solutions she found were a bit too convenient to be fully believable. The same goes for the other characters; most lacked more development and didn't feel well rounded as a consequence. Like with the worldbuilding, I think this story would have benefitted greatly if it would have spent more time developing the characters and the magic in a credible way.

The Republic Of Birds is a middle grade high fantasy read, and as a consequence there is never true danger and things are wrapped up rather quickly. It's a story about a girl trying to save her sister while also discovering herself and her hidden powers. If you are looking for an extensive and lush worldbuilding and lots of Russian folklore elements, you might end up feeling a bit disappointed... The story didn't really flow as I hoped either, mostly due to the info-dumps, but I do think a middle grade audience might react better to the lack of details and seemingly quick solutions. It sure is a fast read though!

~ ARC received in exchange for an honest review ~

'The Republic of Birds' writted by Jessica Miller is a middle-grade fantasy adventure that is inspired by Russian folklore.

It tells the story of thirteen year old Olga who feels a magical connection to the books and maps of the ancient cartographers who mapped out the land of Tsaretsvo when it was divided into the Republic of Birds and the Tsardom - the human world. Before then humans and birds lived in peace.

One thing leads to another and Olga finds herself on a quest to rescue her younger sister when she is kidnapped by the bird army. She's the only person who can save her, but has to unlock her magical ability in order to do so.

I enjoyed the wintry, Russian atmosphere of the story and it's a fun, straightforward plot. Despite being a little info-dumpy with excerpts from the history books that Olga enjoys, I'd still say it's probably better suited to younger readers since it lacks any real feeling of peril. It's ultimately a story about two sisters and is something I'll introduce my kids to in a few years when they're a bit older.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~

The cover immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book.
Looks can be deceiving and we must not judge a book by its cover- though the image is relevant and still exudes a "read me" sentiment- there is so much more within the pages of this book to celebrate and shout about.
Olga and her family are being sent to the far reaches of their kingdom as a "promotion", which is a lovely way of saying exile. Her father has displeased the ruler and is sent away. Where they are forced to live is near to where the birds live, after the war with humans. The two have been divided for years and the tensions are still high.
As Olga has grown, she comes to realize that she is different and being different is not celebrated in this world. Yagas have been chased away and are no longer welcome at court, believed to be responsible for stealing the firebirds egg. Olga is a Yaga but has no mastery of her skills yet and is scared of showing her abilities to anyone.

When her sister is captured by the birds, Olga knows she must find and rescue her but to do so she will need to enter the Republic of Birds, a place forbidden to humans. There is much she will learn on this journey and will come to rely upon her abilities as a skilled map Yaga and a special book she treasures. One she knows off by heart but can now use practically.

She meets other Yagas, finds out school for Yagas is not to be feared but attended with a sense of belonging and hope, and she meets Ptashka, the ruler of the Republic of Birds. Given a job to do in order to save her sister, the journey of Olga is not yet over.

A completely enchanting story of bravery, belonging and with elements of Russian folklore, with chicken legged houses and Yagas throughout. Delightful and hopeful with elements of survival, tricks and finding your place in the family.