Firefox Moon by Eoin Colfer
Publication Date: November 11, 2025
Summary from NetGalley:
Juniper and her loyal flying reindeer Skära are the first ever Guardians of Cedar Wood. With Juniper’s mentor Niko back in the North Pole, they’re entrusted with protecting the magical forest hidden in the middle of London because there’s a teeny-tiny chance that he left behind a few sparks of magic… but definitely not enough to attract any dangerous magical creatures. Probably.
It turns out Niko actually left behind a lot of magic, transforming the entire forest into a haven for powerful creatures just as he’s stranded far from London. A witch wielding a flaming dagger, a cursed queen desperate for a cure, and a pack of wolves out for revenge are all in pursuit of a legendary fox with the power to grant a wish under the midsummer Blood Moon—and the very fate of the Cedar Wood, and possibly all of Britain, hangs in the balance. Protecting the forest from these calamitous newcomers is a lot of work for a thirteen-year-old and her trusty reindeer, but Juniper is determined to save the world.
And one more thing—this adventure features a giant ground sloth, which is about the size of a Toyota Prius, but with more claws.
ARC provided by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group via Netgalley for an honest review.
Confession:
I enjoyed this second book in the Juniper Lane series, but not quite as much as the first book. There is just something about having Santa Claus featured in a story that takes place in the summer that didn’t quite work for me. Other than that though I thought the story was fascinating and I loved how the author worked in Irish and Scottish folklore throughout the story.
I really like Juniper, a biracial teen, who is courageous and determined to do what is right. But she still plays off as a vulnerable teenager whose has doubts in her ability which makes he feel frustrated. I loved how in those moments when she is most stressed she thinks of her family or of her friend Skara and that is what helps get her through them. This book didn’t show the relationship with her mom as much as the first book, but you can still tell that there is a strong bond between them. In this book Juniper is certainly growing into her magic as well and she is determined to be the best guardian of the Cedar Woods as she can.
I love Skara, the reindeer that Juniper bonds with in the first book. He is a delight and he is such a fun addition. Nico is also a fun interpretation of Santa. I liked that he has battle armor for when things get tough.
We have two possible villains in this story and at first it was impossible to tell who was good and who was evil. There are hints early on, but they are pretty subtle. I liked both Ninny the Welsh witch and the Banrosa. They were both interesting characters that were well fleshed out. They both want the fox to make wishes, but only one of them is the good ‘villain’.
The story was very interesting and for the most part fast moving. Lots of symbolism, folklore, medieval references and even some fairytales are brought up. Plus the themes of conservation and stewardship of the natural world are well done. This is a hopeful story with a lot of energy and it is very entertaining with the author’s usual humor woven throughout.
This is a nice addition to the series and I am hoping that there is at least one more coming. It is sort of hinted at the end of the book. You could read this one before reading the first book, but I don’t recommend it. Much of how Juniper bonded with Skara and ended up being the next Santa, as well as the magical system is explained in the first book. Plus it was a Christmas story and it was a lovely book.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 