Anya and the Nightingale

When I requested this audiobook, I did not know this was part of a series. I think the author managed to sum up the first book well enough to be able to follow this story, and though it did take me a little bit to get into this book I ended up really enjoying it. I would recommend reading the first instalment first because it will probably lead to better story immersion. :)Set in Kievan Rus, Anya and her friends, the fool Ivan and the dragon Håkon, embark on a quest to find Anya’s father. Instead, they end up in Kiev, where the Tsarina’s daughter swears she will reunite Anya with her father, but only if they manage to capture the elusive Nightingale.This was my first time listening to an audiobook, and I really thought the narrator managed to make this story come alive.I think the characters were my favourite aspect. They were delightful and had surprising depths., and I really loved following Anya and her friends on their adventure. The story also handles some more serious topics, like PTSD, anti-Semitism (the main character is Jewish), discrimination and subtle LGBTQ+ themes.I would really recommend this for young readers who love fantasy, or readers looking for Jewish representation.