ARC Review: “A Comb of Wishes” by Lisa Stringfellow

A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow

Publishing Date: February 8, 2022

Genre: Fiction, Children’s, Middle-Grade, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia.

Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price…(description from Goodreads)

Review:

A Comb of Wishes is a contemporary fantasy tale that follows Kela, who is still grieving after her mother’s death. She’s been struggling to cope and as a result, has shut out everyone due to grief. One day while walking on the beach she discovers a magical comb that is owned by Ophidia who grants her a wish, but that wish will prove to have dangerous consequences. What price will Kela pay for her wish for the person she wants to see the most?

I love fantasy stories of any kind so the cover and synopsis really drew me in at first sight. Stringfellow’s descriptive writing draws the readers in with details of the sandy beaches of St. Rita, the beautiful yet treacherous waters of the ocean, and creatures that lie beneath the surface unbeknownst to us. I felt like I was going on the adventure with Kela as she makes her wish from the heart and races to fix the ramifications it causes. I enjoyed the fantasy elements and the rich Caribbean folklore as a whole. The use of the “Krik? Krak!” formation to tell the story fit in perfectly with the narrative and reminded me of when I read Edwidge Danticat’s works in the past.

While fun and entertaining, the theme of Kela’s story is grief. In losing her mother, she lost a part of herself as well as her father too. It consumes her whole being as she tries to cope with all the overwhelming emotions. Reading this story reminded me of how you never stop grieving over someone you’ve lost over the years but learn how to cope with their death. Just because they’re gone does not mean you can’t keep them alive in your memories and traditions. I really appreciated how this topic is explored throughout the course of the story with great care. The mermaid Ophidia also goes through her own process of grief from her traumatic past which explains some of the actions in her story.

I enjoyed this novel so much and highly recommend adding it to TBR for 2022. It’s a good book for middle-grade readers and beyond! It was emotional, heartwarming, while also sparking a sense of adventure in the reader as Kela deals with Ophidia and the elements.

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.