NOTE: We teamed up with Simon and Schuster for this The Underwild: River of Spirits Giveaway. All opinions are our own; we were under no obligation to give a positive review. Giveaway prize provided by Simon and Schuster.
Fantasy and mythology lovers, get excited, because we may just have discovered your new favorite read – The Underwild: River of Spirits by Shana Targosz. You’ll come for the references to iconic deities, imaginative myth-steeped lore, and the dangerous journey through the Underworld, but we promise it’s Senka and Poppy’s emotional journey (and your own) that will keep you tearing through the pages.
We could tell you about the Greek mythology that’s woven into every page of this story or the haunting and imaginative journey between the covers – but that’s for you to read. (And if you’re desperate to know more, check out the post linked below where the author shared some of the Greek mythology (and real-world locations) that inspired the story.)
🐦⬛EXPLORE THE UNDERWILD: Author Shana Targoz shared 5 Fun Facts about River of Spirits HERE!
Instead, we want to share a little bit about Senka. Senka is super relatable in so many ways and feels so authentically real that even though she’s ferrying souls to their afterlives and playing games with a cranky old guy and getting history lessons from a wise messenger raven, she still feels like the kind of twelve year old kid you’d meet at school and want to become best friends with. (We certainly do!)
The Underwild: River of Secrets
For the first printing only! This hardcover features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.
A “dazzling debut” (Booklist, starred review) middle grade fantasy about a girl caught between the realms of the living and the dead who gets lost in the Underworld—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.
Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife. Although Charon has taught her many Rules about life in the Underworld, there is much he avoids telling her. Though she doesn’t understand why the Rules are so important, she listens—she must heed them in order to become an official Ferryer, just like Charon.
Then a Living girl, Poppy, enters the Underworld to plead for help in finding the ghost of her brother. Poppy’s grief tugs at Senka’s heart—but helping Poppy goes against the very Rules Senka is so desperate to follow. When Poppy is yanked away by the river’s current, Senka leaps to save her, and she and Poppy are swept downriver, far from everything Senka has ever known.
Lost in the Underwild, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp. Senka knows the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and if Poppy isn’t returned home soon, she will risk becoming lost to the Underworld forever. But as Senka travels deeper into the Underwild, she discovers there are secrets her guardian has kept from her, including the mystery surrounding her own existence. As Poppy and Senka dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, Senka won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own.
The Underwild: River of Secrets
AUTHOR: Shana Targosz
PUBLISHER: Aladdin
DATE: March 25, 2025
Despite taking place in a perilous underworld filled with spirits, dragon chimeras, and other terrifying things, reading this story feels cozy and warm, like sipping on a hot cocoa made by a raven named Mortimer. Senka will capture your attention from the very first page as she introduces you to the her world that teeters between the living and the dead, her grumpy, yet lovable mentor Charon, and Poppy, the girl from the realm of the Living who’s journey to find her brother’s ghost shakes up Senka’s world forever. The story, while exploring grief and loss, is also about friendship, hope, and found family, and Senka’s found family is such a unique and lovable one.
There are secrets lurking everywhere within this story, and you’ll have to read it in order to discover them all, which is why we teamed up with our friends at Simon and Schuster for a giveaway. We’re giving away TWO copies of the special first edition version of The Underwild: River of Spirits, complete with beautiful feather sprayed edges!
Ready to enter? Grab your favorite adult and have them enter below for your chance to WIN!
The Underwild: River of Secrets Giveaway:
WHAT DO I WIN?:
TWO (2) lucky winners will receive a hardcover copy of The Underwild: River of Secrets by Shana Targosz with first-edition sprayed edges, generously provided by Simon and Schuster.
HOW DO I ENTER?:
Grab a parent or guardian and have them fill out the form below by April 8, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.
Giveaway runs from 03/25/25 at 03:30 pm ET through 04/08/25 at 11:59 pm. Open to US residents ONLY. Be sure to read the fully detailed rules HERE before entering.
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.
You must be 18 or older to enter. Please, only ONE entry per person. If selected as a winner, we will provide your parent/guardian with an affidavit to confirm that you are a valid winner who has permission to win. They will be REQUIRED to sign and return the affidavit to YAYOMG! to claim your prize. Prizes will NOT be mailed out without signed parental consent.
📚SORRY I’M BOOKED: Need more reads? Our March YAYBOOKS! Roundup features 36 brand-new books and graphic novels releasing this month!
