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Reviewed by Erick Ramos for Readers' Favorite
Marlow is a swatchtail who works for the messenger's guild of Mulchthicket. She follows a shortcut through the Harrowed Woods to deliver mail and runs into danger. She is saved by Oleander, a danditroll that comes from a family of slayers, and they both form an unlikely friendship. With time, their friendship gets stronger, and they start to understand each other. They both have their challenges. Marlow struggles with her past, while Oleander has to uphold the family's legacy. Years later, Oleander uses a magic potion on his sword and slays a muddlelurker, which comes with some consequences. Oleander and the town are now faced with a dangerous threat. Find out more in Sire, Oleander Isn't Dead! (Yet) by T.I. Avens.
Sire, Oleander Isn't Dead! (Yet) by T. I. Avens moves quickly and has a lot of action that keeps young readers interested. The author also includes calm moments that focus on the characters' feelings. Oleander is a unique character because he loves reading but feels that he has to fight to become a strong slayer like his family. The crew members, Hazel, Prickly, and Dollop, each bring something different, adding some tension, humor, and help along the way. The story has themes of legacy, forgiveness, and identity. I also liked the writing style because it is easy to imagine the events, which is good for middle-grade readers. I liked the friendship that flourished between Marlow and Oleander despite their families, and how the adventure shaped both of them.
