Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Ox

By Author / Illustrator

Eric Huang, Phung Nguyen Quang

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

Little Tiger

ISBN

9781788957564

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

03-07-2025

Synopsis

It's almost time for the Year of the Ox! Ming and Miaow are busy helping their ox friend Xiao Nioh get ready to kick off the festivities with a dance performance to wow the crowds. But when Xiao Nioh's father Lord Chiyou makes clear his disapproval, the trio find themselves sent on a quest to save a village from a fearsome beast.

Xiao Nioh is worried. He can't fight a monster - he's a dancer, not a warrior like his dad! On their adventure, can the Guardians help their friend prove himself to his father while staying true to himself, or is the Year of the Ox ruined before it's even had a chance to start?

A humorous and action-packed series, Guardians of the New Moon is perfect for fans of Yomi and the Fury of Ninka Nanka, Tiger Warrior, Laura Ellen Anderson and Spellcasters.

Also in the series: Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Rat (book 2); Guardians of the New Moon: Ming and Miaow's Great Race (book 1)

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Reviews

Natalie J

The Year of the Ox is the third title in the series Guardians of the New Moon, a set of stories taking the myths and legends of Ancient China and East Asia, particularly around the Chinese New Year, as inspiration for the adventures that Miaow the temple cat and Ming the shapeshifting Firefox/Girl find themselves on.

In this installment, the Year of the Rat is finishing and the Year of the Ox is about to start. The second winner of the Great Race of book one is the very strong and fierce-looking Xiao Nioh, but he believes he is nothing like his lauded and powerful warrior father. For one, he loves to dance more than fight. He has poor self-esteem, is unconfident, believes he is a disappointment to his father, and letdown to his new friends. However, through attempting to fulfil the quest that the emperor sends the trio on he learns how strong and brave he is, how he can use his dancing skills to meet foes such as the Ice Ghost and the terryifing Nian head on, and how much his friends value him.

I like the use of the prologues and epilogues that appear in each story, they are a clever effective way of recapping the final of the Great Race through the viewpoint of this story's protagonist and also giving a glimpse into the next episode.

Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Ox is a very touching, sensitive story about a father and son understanding each other through a high energy, humorous, fast-paced escapade.

160 pages / Reviewed by Natalie McCrytal Plimmer, librarian