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  • Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison book cover
  • Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison book cover
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Travel Light

by Naomi Mitchison Publisher: SMALL BEER PR

Critically Recognized

A fairy-tale journey shaped by a choice

$15.04 USD
$25.07 USD $15.04 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praise from The Observer

    The Observer praises Naomi Mitchison's fairy-tale storytelling.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A fairy-tale journey shaped by a choice

Halla’s life begins with exile: born to a king, she is left on the hills and grows up among bears and dragons. As the age of dragons fades, an offer from Odin places a question of identity and attachment before her—whether to remain “dragonish,” gathering wealth and possessions, or to travel light. The tale ranges from the dark ages toward modern times, moving from medieval forests to Constantinople. Its fantastical journey brings together folklore, mythic figures, and a philosophical concern with what it means to hold on or let go.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in fantasy and fairy tales
  • Readers curious about stories featuring dragons, bears, and mythic figures
  • Those interested in fantasy that considers wealth, possessions, and letting go

Themes

Exile and belongingDragons and folkloreWealth and possessionsIdentity and letting go

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"Travel Light is the story of Halla, a girl born to a king but cast out onto the hills to die. She lives among bears; she lives among dragons. But the time of dragons is passing, and Odin All-Father offers Halla a choice: Will she stay dragonish and hoard wealth and possessions, or will she travel light?"
--Amal El-Mohtar, NPR, You Must Read This

From the dark ages to modern times, from the dragons of medieval forests to Constantinople, this is a fantastic and philosophical fairy-tale journey that will appeal to fans of Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones, and T. H. White's The Sword in the Stone.

"No one knows better how to spin a fairy tale than Naomi Mitchison."--The Observer

"Read it now."--Ursula K. Le Guin

"You will love this book."--Holly Black

"The enchantments of Travel Light contain more truth, more straight talking, a grittier, harder-edged view of the world than any of the mundane descriptions of daily life you will find in ... science fiction stories."
-- Paul Kincaid, SF Site

"A gem of a book."
-- Strange Horizons

"Every page is full of magic and wonder....well worth seeking out."-- Rambles

"Combines the best of Rowling and Pullman, being full of magic and fantasy with the hard edge of reality sharp at its edges."
-- The New Review/LauraHird.com
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

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Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.