The series, written by Lori M Lee, is part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. The first book, Pahua and the Soul Stealer was released in 2021, and a sequel, Pahua and the Dragon's Secret, is set to be published in 2024.
This book contains examples of:
- A Dog Named "Dog": Pahua's friend is a cat spirit she named "Miv", meaning "cat".
- All of the Other Reindeer: Pahua doesn't fit in at her school, and her only friends are her brother and the spirits. Some of the students make fun of her for it.
- Big Brother Instinct: Since her mom works a lot and her dad left, Pahua is the one who looks after her younger brother Matt. When his soul is taken by the bridge spirit, she goes on a dangerous quest to bring him back.
- Disappeared Dad: For reasons Pahua doesn't know, her dad left one day and never returned, leaving her mom to raise them alone.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Xov, the imprisoned god who wants to kill Shee Yee. By the end of the first book, he tricks Pahua into breaking part of his confinement.
- Guile Hero: Pahua often uses bargaining to deal with enemies, an approach which annoys Zhong.
- Hypocritical Humor: Miv complains about the notorious rudeness of horses, though Pahua notes that he is often rude himself.
- Invisible to Normals: Normal humans and even most shamans can't see spirits in the mortal realm like Pahua can, leading them to think she has imaginary friends.
- I Will Find You: The main plot of the first book is Pahua's quest to find and rescue her brother in the Spirit Realm.
- Only the Chosen May Wield: Only Shee Yee can wield the lightning axe. As his reincarnation, Pahua can use it too.
- Prophecy Twist: The spell binding Xov mentions it being broken "for love of sun". It turns out it actually says "for love of son". The first seal is broken when Pahua rescues Xov's son Miv.
- Reincarnation-Identifying Trait: Pahua is identified as the reincarnated Shee Yee by the swirl pattern that appears on her arm.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Xov, a God of Evil who was imprisoned by Shee Yee long ago.
- Snarky Non-Human Sidekick: Pahua's cat spirit friend, Miv.
- Successful Sibling Syndrome: Zhong comes from a family of accomplished shaman warriors, including an older sister that is a prodigy in magic. Zhong feels like she can't measure up to her sister's achievements.
- Taken for Granite: Pahua and Zhong fight an eagle that uses its cries to turn them to stone. Pahua convinces it to reverse the spell before it's complete.
- Talking the Monster to Death: Rather than killing her, Pahua talks to the bridge spirit to convince her to move on.
- Was Once a Man: The poj ntxoog were once humans, but became twisted and vengeful after they were killed by spirits.
- Your Soul Is Mine!: The bridge spirit steals the souls of children, including Pahua's brother.
