Peak nostalgia.
All tagged animal sidekick
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
I knew I could trust Robin McKinley
Soul-Singer of Tyrnos by Ardath Mayhar
A classic, easy fantasy perfectly low-key for reading with fried nerves.
The Serpent by Jane Gaskell
That cover got me some stares from the so-religious-he-won’t-sit-next-to-women guy on the bus. Would recommend.
Pandora's Genes
If I had first read a bullet-point list of all the concepts in Pandora’s Genes, I would have responded with “Nope, nope, nope, I’m out!” However, I would’ve regretted missing out on this story.