ya Archives

Witchlings

The Trauma of Growing Up and Fighting Monsters Author: Claribel A. Ortega Twelve-year-old Seven Salazar is on the path to all her dreams. Tonight, at the Black Moon Ceremony, in front of the entire town and by the side of her best friend, she will become a full-fledged witch and be sorted into House Hyacinth with her friend. At least, that’s what she hopes. There is a nagging feeling of doubt, but she pushes that down, smiles, dons her best dress, and prepares for the magical moment. Only, it doesn’t come. Seven isn’t sorted into a coven with her best friend. [...]

Frances Carden2023-07-14T12:47:25-07:00July 9th, 2023|Tags: fantasy, fiction, middle grade, read, reading, reviews, ya|

Stolen Heir, The

The Stolen Heir Jude and Cardan still hold the throne of Elfhame. It’s been eight years since the final, bloody battle, since Jude’s sentences were dispersed, since the traitors started their punishment. Oak is now grown and rumors abound. Assassination attempts have already been launched – and failed. Will Jude and Cardan really step down? And what about this playboy prince, who’s rumored to break hearts and destroy lives? Oak is ready for his first adventure. He is joined both by a loyal adherent and a fugitive. The fugitive is a man under a curse for betraying Jude and Cardan, [...]

Frances Carden2023-05-21T15:22:37-07:00May 21st, 2023|Tags: book review, fairie, fairy, fantasy, fey, Folk of the Air, read, reading, ya|

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

Prince Cardan's Childhood Author: Holly Black In the in-between land while fans processed the conclusion of The Queen of Nothing and prepared for The Stolen Air and Oak’s supposed rise to the throne, this little illustrated fairytale came along. Here, we shift the focus away from Jude’s complicated rise to power and love him/hate him lust for Cardan to concentrate on the flawed faerie prince himself. Told from his prospective, this slim tome highlights key moments in Cardan’s life and his liminal status, stuck between coldly evil price and something softer, something more sympathetic that survived the courts and his elder [...]

Frances Carden2023-05-17T13:51:27-07:00May 14th, 2023|Tags: Faerie, fairy, fantasy, Folk of the Air, Holly Black, read, reading, reviews, ya|