Book review: The Crown of Bitter Root -- book two of Iggy's Voyage trilogy

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The Crown of Bitter Root
Book 2 of the IGGY'S VOYAGE trilogy
science taught Iggy to ask questions -- magic taught her to believe

a novel for middle-grade-age readers
by Ani Birch
Publisher: Resource Publications, an imprint of Wipf and Stock (Oregon)
Release date: March 13, 2026
Review by Amanda Le Rougetel


Iggy continues to be a thoroughly intriguing character in this second story of her adventures (and misadventures) in the far-away land of Mystral. An ordinary girl, she struggles with the mysterious magical powers that she seems to have inherited. She continues to rely on Oona, the flying dragon, and Quinn, the adorable puppy, for much-needed companionship, and she is still trying to figure things out with her dad and her grandmother. Can she trust either of them? Can her dad make it safely back from the dark side? Is her mind-reading grandmother good or is she evil?

Poor Iggy. So much for this brave ten-year-old to figure out.

“Don’t repeat your ancestors’ mistakes. Be better. We need you,” Iggy is told, reminding her of the burden she is carrying with the magic she is learning to better control. And it seems that under the tutelage of her grandmother, Iggy is indeed growing into being more like the leader the Kingdom of Mystral needs her to be. Though she still doesn’t wear the title of “Princess” or “Conqueror” with ease, Iggy desperately wants to believe it when her grandmother swears “we can turn back time and bring the light back.”

“Being a scientist in a world with magic is hard,” says Iggy, because most of the rules she grew up with don’t apply in Mystral. But she perseveres, because she so badly wants her family back together again. Who among us cannot relate to that?

Iggy faces challenges from encounters with the shapeshifting Crooghyn — the spirits who “wear other skins — to the more usual girl-meanness of Arlein and Emaile. What is up with them anyway? What do they have against our Iggy? And could her own father be a Croo?

With her mother at her side, Iggy spends time in Mystral trying to master her magical powers to save the realm and trying to understand who is real and who is shapeshifting beyond the Threshold. We are taken on the journey of learning with her as some things unravel and others come into clear focus. Nothing is easy for Iggy, but, then, nothing worthwhile ever really is.

Iggy personifies persistence and resilience, two traits I view as life skills. For that reason alone, her story is important for any middle grade reader and for anyone doubting they can find their way through life's challenges with their own skills and abilities. 

No matter what lands in Iggy’s path, she is learning how to dig deep, pull out what is inside her, and fight her way through it. I love this about Iggy. 

You’ll get no spoilers from me, but I will say that Iggy makes it to the end of this second story in one piece. What she’s going to face in her third and final story I cannot imagine, but I have a hunch that Lilah, her grandmother, will be key. Bring on Book Three! I hope it brings Iggy and her whole family home, but I’ll have to be patient. It’s due out this fall.

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Read my review of Book One here.

Follow Ani Birch on Substack and on Instagram, and visit her website.


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