Esme Symes-Smith

Oct 29, 2024 | kirkusreviews.com | Esme Symes-Smith |Peter Brown |Kate McKinnon

Torn apart by war, Callie, Willow, Elowen, and Edwyn confront new enemies, grapple with difficult decisions, and rally the courage to fight for a better future. Callie and Willow, exiled to Eyrewood after escaping Helston, wait and train for their next battle. Guilt and worry eat away at Callie’s patience as the adults hesitate to plan their next move. Any day now, the forces of Helston or Alis, the Witch Queen of Dumoor, could attack.

Nov 6, 2023 | tor.com | Esme Symes-Smith

Like most children of the ’90s, I loved nothing more than running around and hitting things with sticks. I also loved pretending that my bike was a horse, and I spent many hours charging up and down my grandparents’ driveway jousting, aka knocking a bucket off a wall with a bamboo cane. I was what was widely misinterpreted as a tomboy. Except I wasn’t.

Sep 24, 2023 | kirkusreviews.com | Esme Symes-Smith |Peter Brown |Dav Pilkey

In this follow-up to 2022’s Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, aspiring knight Callie grapples with right and wrong as their kingdom prepares for war. After Callie defeated Chancellor Peran, they thought Helston would become a more welcoming kingdom. Under the queen’s new decrees, anyone can train for knighthood or study magic regardless of gender. The rules may have changed, but people still fear magic.