FIERCELY FICTIONAL: Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky

FIERCELY FICTIONAL celebrates fierce, inspiring fictional girls we know you’ll love. To us, “fierce” isn’t just about slaying dragons or solving mysteries. It’s about breaking free from your comfort zone, discovering your confidence, fighting for what you believe in, & discovering your emotional strength. Any girl can shine bright & be fierce, & in this series, we’ll connect you with a new fiercely fictional character every month!

FIERCELY FICTIONAL is back, and we’re highlighting the determined and fearless Tessa Miyata from Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky by Julie Abe.

Tessa Miyata fans, it’s time to return to this magical universe! In book two, Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky, the stakes are even higher and the danger is even more real. We find Tessa having the best summer ever in Japan, attending festivals and spending time with her new friend Jin, thrilled to be back to living normal lives after the whole fighting an evil samurai thing went down a few months ago. (Want to know the deets? Be sure to read the first book, Tessa Miyata is No Hero).

Of course, just when they think things are settling down, a talking invitation shows up inviting them both to the Academy of the Gods, to train on behalf of Kit, the Unlucky God (who is also their friend and mentor) to compete in the Cycle, a high-stakes competition of the gods, unlike anything they’ve faced before. Win five trials against the clans of immortals and Tessa and Jin will be granted with immortality, but lose? They’ll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist! Tessa and Jin may be worthy contenders with Tessa’s determination and eye for detail and deep understanding of her team’s strengths, but they’re still mere mortals facing off against gods, putting them at a serious disadvantage. It definitely won’t be easy and it’ll take everything they’ve got to make it through to ensure the fate of both the mortal and immortal world.

Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky:

Thankfully, we love an underdog story, and we think you will too! Steeped in Japanese lore and mythology and packed with unexpected adventure and exciting battles, Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky is a sequel worthy of the gods. It’s also a great end of summer read to finish off your epic summer before slipping back into your school year.

So what makes Tessa Miyata fierce? Her bravery in the face of the unexpected, her unwavering loyalty to her friends, and the way that no matter her flaws or missteps, she always owns who she is and owns up to her mistakes. Oh, and she learns to believe in herself, a hero who’s worthy of being at the top of your TBR stack and pinned to your vision board for confidence boosting-inspo.

We’re excited to share that Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky author Julie Abe is here sharing a peek between the pages of this new read and all the reasons Tessa is totally fierce!

Five Reasons Tessa Miyata is Totally Fierce:

Even when things don’t go the way she expects, she learns to make the best of it:

Tessa finds ways to make lemonade out of a life full of lemons. Boring summer vacation? It’s worth trying to befriend the neighborhood kid! Neighborhood kid thinks he’s way too cool for you? Time to hang out with that magical fox that just appeared out of thin air… and, oops, now she has to stop that evil samurai god that she let loose, too! (Definitely, no more boring summers for Tessa!)

She supports her best friends with all of her heart:

When Tessa was in sixth grade, she became best friends with a girl named Allison. But, when Allison posted a super-viral video that made fun of Tessa, their friendship was completely broken, and Tessa became uncertain if friendship could ever be real.

But, as she makes friends with Jin, Mimi, and Hachi, she learns to value them deeply—and vows to be their friend, even if their lives take them down separate paths.

Every time she falls down, she gets back up (even if it takes some time):

Tessa’s semi-wise mentor, mostly troublemaking sidekick, Kit, reminds her of the Japanese phrase, “After the rain, the earth hardens”—meaning that tough times make you stronger, even when you don’t feel like that sometimes.

She understands that every person has their unique skills, including her:

When she and her friends have to fight against immortals—as nothing more than mere mortals—she’s definitely at a disadvantage. But, since she’s fighting to save one of her best friends, Tessa will do anything she can to win.

She uses her sharp, observational senses to figure out what she can do and how the rest of her team can contribute best—even when the odds are stacked against them.

She learns to believe in herself—and that becomes her greatest power of all:

Tessa has looked up to the main characters of the animes and books that she’s always loved… However, she’s always been way too unlucky, and she’s never believed that she could be a hero, too. But, when Tokyo is at risk of going up in flames, and the balance of the mortal—and immortal—world rests in her hands, Tessa learns that, even if she isn’t a god, she has the power to change her fate—and, maybe she isn’t so unlucky, after all.

📚Need another fierce read to add to your shelf after Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky? Catch up on our FIERCELY FICTIONAL series!