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Reviewed by Gabriel Santos for Readers' Favorite
Rachel Taylor Thompson's Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons) takes place in a world similar to ours but filled with magical creatures and gifted humans, called magic-handlers, capable of wielding the power of magic. That said, all of this matters little to Sasha Clems, a young girl from a poor non-magical family, more concerned about trying to make ends meet than obtaining powerful spells. Yet a chance encounter with a dying seadragon turns her life upside down when she takes the creature's Semis, an amalgamation of raw magic coveted by all magic-handlers. Now, Sasha must navigate the intricacies of the magic world, figuring out who she can and can't trust while dodging pursuers to find a trustworthy buyer for the Semis.
I loved everything about this novel, but Sasha is, without a doubt, the star here: her irreverence, sarcastic remarks, and quips keep the narration entertaining and full of personality, while her skeptical nature and inner conflicts add depth and intrigue. Her family dynamics and interactions with other characters, especially Ari, are also interesting and refreshing. Ari, in particular, seems like a stereotypical love interest at first glance but reveals himself to be quite endearing and unique. Rachel Taylor Thompson's worldbuilding also deserves praise: you could make an entire cinematic universe out of the setting, with its many organizations, conspiracies, magical creatures, and history. If you're looking for a fast-paced YA novel with plenty of adventure, fantasy, and romance, I wholeheartedly recommend Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons).
