Claw Quest is the first book in a middle grade reader fantasy series by Nik Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz. Released 9th June 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Labyrinth Road imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an engaging, exciting, and well written fantasy adventure story with believable kids, their real inner lives, and their guardians/companions who are cat shaped, trying to avoid bullies, deal with homework, and save the world.
The authors do a very good job of making the cats and "their" kids appealing, but not too perfect, believable, but not whiny, and vulnerable, but still brave and capable. They're all dealing with issues in their personal lives, they all have challenges (like everyone does), and still manage to find time to help save our world from the forces of darkness.
The story touches on the breakup of families, parents living far away, bullying, and other real-life stuff lots of kids deal with, without being preachy or depressing.
The story is set in Colombia, and the authors render the settings and characters believably and with heart. The text is peppered with Spanish phrases and Colombian cultural references, which are easy to understand in context.
Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent public or school library acquisition, as well as for home reading.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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