Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister

Vanya and the Wild Hunt – at a glance

The School Reading Lists’ five word review: magic, secrets, family, fantasy, neurodivergence.
Children’s book title: Vanya and the Wild Hunt.
Children’s author: Sangu Mandanna.
Children’s illustrator: Kristina Kister.
Genre: Children’s fiction / fantasy.
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books.
ISBN: 9781035044757.
Recommended for children aged: 9-14 year-olds.
First published: Hardback March 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction with a strong minded heroine. Also for encouraging discussion about writing fantasy fiction and how we would cope if our lives changes as dramatically as Vanya’s.


Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister

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Our review:

Vanya Vallen has always felt a little different from her peers, and not just because she has recently discovered she has ADHD. It might also have something to do with the fact that she can talk to certain books – and they talk back! Living with her parents in a small bookshop means the talking books arrive quite regularly, but discovering a monster – known as an Old One – in the kitchen attacking her mother is a terrifying first!

As a result of the attack, Vanya is sent to live with her mother’s best friend in a magical library known as Auramere, Archive of the Arcane. Jasper and his husband, Roman, are teachers at the school housed within the magical buildings, and suddenly, Vanya’s life becomes more incredible than she ever imagined. She takes lessons in subjects like Runic Magic and Arcane Shadowing, chooses a familiar as her magical companion, and, perhaps most amazingly of all, makes real friends for the first time.

For a while, life seems as good as it gets – until one of the community’s greatest adversaries is spotted on the Library grounds. The only way it could be there is if someone invited it in, which means a resident, staff member, or student must have been involved. Is someone she trusts part of the attack? Vanya struggles to piece everything together, but when someone close to her is seriously injured, she knows she has to act fast – before someone is killed. What she uncovers will change her life, and the lives of those around her, forever.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister

Our verdict:

This is a brilliant book – the first in a series that is sure to be hugely popular. A fantasy filled with magic, incredible locations, and believable characters, it introduces readers to Vanya Vallen, an eleven-year-old protagonist who discovers her parents have been keeping enormous secrets. Vanya has never told anyone that she can talk to books or that only certain titles seem able to respond. But her parents’ secrets are even bigger and more far-reaching than she could ever have imagined. After the attack on her home by an Old One, she embarks on a journey to a magical school for her own safety.

Much of this book is dedicated to world-building, but thanks to a fast-moving plot and special illustrations, every chapter is both exciting and immersive. The detailed descriptions help set the scene, establish relationships, and bring to life Vanya’s new home, extraordinary lessons, and magical surroundings.

As the story hurtles towards its climax, the tension builds, with Vanya torn as friends, family, and staff face increasingly dangerous situations – ones no one fully understands, but everyone fears. With at least one more book in the series to come, this is a thrilling read that sparks the imagination and makes you root for a relatable, likeable heroine.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister

Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:

  • Attending boarding school can be daunting, but Vanya was eager to learn about the magic her parents had kept from her. If you could study a completely new subject at school, what would it be?
  • Vanya and Ben are both neurodiverse and understand each other well. Did reading about how they experience the world and which everyday items cause them difficulties help you understand ADHD and autism better?
  • In many books about witches and magic, characters have a familiar to guide them. If you could choose one, what animal would it be and why?
  • If you had a magic door, where would you go first?
  • This is the start of a new series – if you were writing book two, what would you want to happen next?

Many thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books for the review copy.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna, illustrated by Kristina Kister

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About Tracy Wood

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I am a voracious reader and used to be a learning support assistant in a senior school for eight years before leaving to home school my now adult daughter. I have ten grandchildren who I love reading to and spending time with. Reviews by Tracy Wood