Japan, 1875-6. Toki-Girl Azuki has found another dual-natured bird-human: Eagle-Boy Akira from far-away Hokkaido. He wants to join her family and friends but can he find a way to live as a human in a changing society where individual lives and wishes count for little? Sparrow-Boy Shota knows what he wants but increasing responsibilities mean he must leave behind what he loves, to assume duties he can't escape. How can he help Akira when he doesn't know how to help himself? Western Dragon Prince Irtysh is falling in love, but she's not only an Eastern Dragon, she's dual-natured! How can he possibly win her heart? Will these unlikely allies find a way to help each other soar? The Eagle and the Sparrow is the seventh in the enchanting Toki-Girl and Sparrow-Boy series, where magical realism collides with historical fantasy in Meiji-era Japan. If you like compelling characters and tumultuous times mixed with enthralling Japanese folklore, you won't want to miss Claire Youmans' powerful tale of the Meiji Era. Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite The Eagle and the Sparrow is a work of fiction in the historical and fantasy sub-genres and was penned by author Claire Youmans. The seventh novel in the Toki-Girl and the Sparrow Boy collection, the work is suitable for readers of all ages, though it does accurately reflect the uglier side of Japanese culture and history as much as the beauty. Set in the Meiji Era in 1875, the story continues as dual-natured beings discover the difficulties of living as humans amid tumultuous and changing times. As characters fall in love, are separated and face various heartaches, so the ensemble comes together against the backdrop of wickedness, selfishness, and greed in Japan. Author Claire Youmans has crafted a fascinating and truly unique fantasy series that delves deep into Japanese folklore and stays true to the core values of its culture and historical heritage. I particularly enjoyed the characterization of Shota the Sparrow-Boy, who feels his duty painfully but is also going through an important emotional crisis during this tale. The geographical settings of the piece mix well with the folklore elements, and the various characters' ability to fly, which allows us more scope and more beautifully described vistas and locations as the novel progresses. Highly suitable for teen readers and upwards, there is much to learn in the accurate history that the author weaves amongst her fantasy storylines, and overall I would highly recommend The Eagle and the Sparrow as a must-read for those seeking original fantasy works from other cultures. Ruffina Oserio The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy is book 7 in The Eagle and the Sparrow series by Claire Youmans, a fascinating entry in a series set in the Meiji Era between 1875 and 1876. It is a period of transformation, with new inventions and systems that deeply affected how people related to themselves and how they saw the world around them. In this narrative, the author weaves a yarn that captures the colorful and adventurous folklore of Japanese culture. Toki-Girl Azuki finds out about the Eagle-Boy Akira from a distant Hokkaido, but can his dual nature allow him to live with her family? Sparrow-Boy has his own struggles and as much as he wants to help Akira, he must overcome his own limitations. Irtysh is a dual-natured Western Dragon Prince who is in love and devastated by the thought that his love might not be reciprocated. Claire Youmans transports readers to the Japanese world of folklore and shares stories of characters that are not-so-normal, dual-natured humans struggling with historical changes happening around them. It is against the backdrop of a changing world that these characters seek love, friendship, freedom, and acceptance. Written in a style that is enticing, The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy is permeated by realism. The characters are compelling and while some of the key characters are dual-natured, their humanity is beautifully captured in the stories, and readers can easily feel their pain and relate to their thrills and frustrations. I enjoyed the gorgeous writing that is filled with vivid descriptions, the deft handling of the plot, and the author's gift for character. But the world into which this novel pulls the reader is what sets the story apart. Asher Syed Claire Youmans' seventh book in the Japanese fantasy folklore The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow series, The Eagle and the Sparrow comes on the heels of its popular predecessors Coming Home, Chasing Dreams, Together, Uncle Yuta has an Adventure, Noriko's Journey, The Dragon Sisters, and the prequel The Sparrows of Pussan. Azuki and her brother Shota are what Youmans calls dual-natured. They are among a special group that can take a form that is either human or bird living in historical Japan. In the form of a beautiful and rare Toki bird, Azuki moves between the coexisting world of her animal family and her human family alongside her sparrow-human broth