Posts Tagged 'magic'

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic

Published November 7, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Lovett is a silkwitch, which means she has magical powers in the strands of her hair. Each silkwitch is different and Lovett’s ability is that she can open any door no matter what. Lovett has been on her own awhile and gets by by stealing from the rich and hiding in the shadows so no one realizes she is an unwed silkwitch. If she does not find a weaver husband she will be forced to work in the cloisters. One day she walks into a trap set by the son of a weaver, Eliot Lear. Eliot offers Lovett an appealing offer. She must join the vainglory, or competition for the prince to find a bride. It is only for silkwitches since the prince must marry a silkwitch in order to maintain the family power. There was a vainglory the year before that ended in tragedy when Eliot’s sister was suddenly killed. He wants Lovett to infiltrate the competition to find out what really happened to his sister and in return he promises he will find her a suitable match so that she never has to go to the cloisters. Lovett isn’t used to being the one getting played, but ultimately agrees since this could save her future. Once she gets to the castle everything seems darker and more sinister. The prince is nice enough but the King is very intimidating and seems to predict her every move. Can Lovett find out what happened to Eliot’s sister without being found out for who she truly is? Will she manage to escape the cloisters? Will the prince take a liking to Lovett, which would be problematic because he doesn’t know who she truly is or what her motives are?

This fantasy story is exciting and has many twists and turns as Lovett gets deeper into this wealthy world. The other silkwitches all have secrets and special abilities just like Lovett which makes it hard to know who is telling the truth and who has ulterior motives as well. Eliot is an interesting character too. He clearly wants to know the truth about what happened to his sister, but it seems there are other secrets he is keeping as one of those closest to the prince. Meanwhile, Lovett finds there are many secrets to be unearthed in the castle, but it doesn’t take long before she gets warnings to stop digging or else. Readers will want to see more from these characters. Recommended for fantasy readers, especially fantasy romance readers.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

Published June 17, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Ivy has come to the age where all young women in her town can ask the Queen, who is a conniving fae, for a wish. All wishes come at a price, however. For example, her older sister does not remember her wish, but it has forever changed her and she now she is despondent and rarely leaves her room. This is the same occasion that young ladies come out as available to be married, but when Ivy and the others go to be presented before the Queen they learn that this year the fae prince will be looking for a bride. There is a catch to trying to make a match with the prince, however, and that is that each girl must sign her name in blood to a binding contract that states if the prince does NOT choose her then she cannot marry anyone else. Ivy is the first to step up to sign under these conditions, because she’s hoping if she could become a princess then she might be able to save her sister. None of the girls who sign know what is in store for them as the Queen puts them through cruel and terrible challenges in order to gain her favor. As Ivy gets closer to the other girls still left in the competition it becomes clear that no one will really win in this situation and she needs to find a way to help her family while she still can. The other prince (the one without magical abilities) tries to get Ivy to join his secret plan to unseat the queen and undo all of her “wishes.” Ivy agrees, but isn’t sure how they can best such a powerful figure. Plus, she isn’t sure who will stand with them and who will betray them. Can Ivy save her sister from her secret fate? Can Ivy find happiness in such a dire situation? Is there anyone Ivy can truly trust?

This fantasy series will thrill fans of The Hunger Games and the Selection series. The trials the Queen puts the girls through are cruel, but also clever in how they are planned out. There are occasionally moments when the reader gets to learn more about the other bachelorettes to see what each girl’s motivations and dreams are which becomes helpful as the ending unfolds. The growing relationship between Ivy and the other prince continues to grow as the story develops and they both know that Ivy has agreed to never marry another should the prince not choose her. The ending has many surprises and revelations (which readers will love), but there is still more to come with these characters as not everything has been revealed yet. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy romance series.

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Published January 21, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Every five years two kingdoms put on a “Wild Hunt.” The risks are pretty high as many people do not survive, but the winner gets a wish of anything he or she wants so there’s always a lot of people willing to take on the challenge. Branwen accidentally received the ability to see all magic with one of her eyes. It’s a dangerous gift, though, and causes her physical pain if she uses that eye too much so she wears an iron patch over it most of the time. Her mother has gotten a memory disease that Branwen is desperate to help her with, which is why she agrees when Gwydion asks her to join him in the hunt. Gwydion comes from a magical family where everyone looks down on his gift of manipulating plants. He knows his uncle is going to name his older brother as his successor and Gwydion knows that is a mistake because his brother is temperamental and impulsive, while his sister has all the markings of a great ruler. Gwydion makes a deal with his uncle not to name a successor until after the hunt because he thinks if he wins he can convince him to choose someone else instead. Pryderi was born a prince, but shortly after birth was kidnapped by a monster and raised until he was a child. Then, a farmer saved him and raised him as his own. When it was discovered who he really was he was sent to his father’s kingdom and expected to act as the heir. The problem is that Pryderi isn’t sure if he wants to rule. When the three of them join together to form a team they feel they have a good chance of winning the hunt. However, there are some things about the competition that are not revealed until after it begins. Will they manage to find a way to persevere? Can they truly trust each other or is everyone out for themselves?

This fantasy story has it all: adventure, treachery, betrayal, and even some romance. The Wild Hunt is unique enough that it stands out from other books that have magical competitions. The three main characters are easy to differentiate due to their backgrounds and individual strengths. Branwen is the first one introduced so it’s easy to really care about her and her mother’s illness. Gwydion and Pryderi both have noble causes they want to strive for, but both aren’t entirely sure where they personally want their lives to go, which is easy for young people to identify with. The ending is exciting and satisfying and will leave readers energized. Recommended for fantasy lovers.

Poison in their Hearts by Laura Sebastian

Published October 22, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

In this final installment of the Castles in their Bones series, Daphne and Beatriz work together to try and overcome the horrendous plans set out by their mother to take over all of the kingdoms at any cost. However, it will not be easy as their mother always seems to be a step ahead and has spies everywhere. In fact, before Beatriz can get to Daphne, she is betrayed, drugged, and sent back to the kingdom she desperately wants to flee. Meanwhile, Violie is trying to maintain the ruse that she is in fact Princess Sophronia (with Daphne’s help). Can they find a way, with their allies, to outsmart their mother and somehow keep the prophecy of their deaths from coming to fruition? Will they be able to find a way to get the support of the people against their mother, who appears from the outside to be a kind leader? Do they have what it takes to really stand up to the one who raised them for this very purpose?

This final installment is every bit as engaging as the first two and will make readers wish the series continued on. The sisters, continue to become more complex and endearing characters, but the supporting characters also become more developed as each impacts the ultimate resolution. This story does not shy away from violence as a means to an end, but it is never too graphic or overwhelming. The ending contains many twists and turns, which is impressive considering how far this story has already taken readers, but at no point does anything seem outlandish or exaggerated. This book finishes out the trilogy in such a satisfying way that the previous two books seem even better now that the resolution is clear. Recommended for fantasy and romance readers.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang

Published October 8, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Tabatha is the apprentice to one of the world’s most famous sorcerer’s and so far it has been a good learning experience. Until that is, when her boss predicts his own gruesome death and it actually comes true. There is a special division of law enforcement who deals with magical murders and they quickly zero in on Callum, the sorcerer’s youngest son. Callum and Tabatha decide to work together to try to figure out how someone could have killed the sorcerer in the way he died, but also who would want him dead. Many things do not add up in this mystery and there are many family members acting suspiciously in the days after the unexpected death. Moreover, Tabatha still isn’t sure who she can trust and it becomes clear that no one trusts her either. How can they solve the mystery of this near impossible crime?

This fantasy story is unique and intriguing from the beginning as the world is described and the purpose of sorcerer’s in the world becomes clear. The idea of a prophecy predicting the death of a powerful sorcerer is very interesting because he should be able to protect himself from most supernatural threats. As the family members are introduced it becomes clear that there are several dynamics at play, not to mention Tabatha suspects many of them are lying. Callum has a backstory with his father that makes his motives unclear, but for some reason he is able to convince Tabatha that he had nothing to do with his father’s death. The ending is exciting and satisfying. Recommended for fantasy fans looking for something new and different.

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

Published October 1, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Linden and her sisters all have the ability to taste the feelings of those around them. Over the years, people in their small town have started to get spooked by the James women because of their supernatural abilities. They run a popular cafe in town, however, and many can’t resist their fried green tomatoes. Linden went missing in the woods one night and does not remember what happened to her or how she found her way home, but when another girl goes missing shortly after and is not so lucky as to return home safely, many start to wonder if there is a creature in the woods preying on young women. Meanwhile, it feels like someone is specifically targeting the James women and Linden is not sure how to stop it before they lose everything. Can Linden and her sisters get to the bottom of who is behind these attacks? Can Linden find a way to use her ability to her advantage with those around her? Will she ever be able to find a way back to her beloved boyfriend, Cole, who fled when he learned of her abillity?

Fans of fantasy books will enjoy this title because it has a unique premise, interesting characters, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. The mystery itself has more twists in it than it originally appears and the ending is very exciting and dramatic. There are also many secrets amongst the characters that all prove to be very important to the story once they are revealed. The James women are the real star of this novel and readers will want to know more about this charismatic family.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

Published September 13, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Paedyn Gray has been passing as a psychic ever since her father was brutally murdered in their home. In her kingdom, if you don’t have a magical ability you are banished or worse, so it is imperative that no one find out she’s an Ordinary. When she inadvertently saves the life of a prince everyone suddenly takes notice of her and she is forced to join the Purging Trials. The Purging Trials is a brutal competition in which Elites show their power by using their magical abilities to win dangerous events in which some do not survive. Once Paedyn begins the Purging Trials she becomes close with both princes, Kai and Kitt. Kai is the enforcer of the kingdom and is used by his father to murder or banish those he feels unworthy to live there. Kitt, on the other hand, will one day be king and tends to show more compassion and sympathy toward his subjects, but he also believes his father’s way is the only way and has no plans to change anything once he ascends the throne. Meanwhile, there is an underground movement to overthrow the king due to his ruthless tactics and malicious laws and as Paedon gets to know those around her in the Elites she can’t help but feel torn between these two groups. What would happen if Kai and Kitt found out she had ties to the rebels? Who was behind her father’s murder and can she find a way to avenge him? What will happen if the Elites find out she is truly an Ordinary?

Fans of fantasy series will love this book as it combines popular elements such as magical abilities, ruthless competitions, corrupt kings, and of course secrets. The characters are all well developed, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability to change and grow as secrets are revealed. The ending is well developed as the plot twists reveal everyone is hiding something and their relationships will be forever changed. Fans of The Testing series, The Red Queen series, and other similar fantasy series will enjoy this book and be racing to get the next one in the series.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang

Published May 2, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Disappointing her parents, Asian American Tabatha has chosen to study fortune telling with a renowned sorcerer as her mentor, Julian. As part of that training she has learned how to decipher the truth from lies, which is why she is stunned when Julian states that he has seen a fortune and it includes his own murder. She can tell he is not lying about the fortune he saw, but she cannot imagine it to be true. He makes her promise to find his son, Callum, if he is murdered but doesn’t tell her why. As the days go by, she is starting to hope the prophecy was flawed, but one day she is informed as she arrives for work that Julian was in fact dismembered late the night before in his workshop. Unfortunately, the cameras were all disabled so the police do not have a lot of clues, but they believe magic could have been involved. Tabatha keeps her promise and finds Callum and the two of them decide to try to find the killer, despite the many warnings they receive to stay out of it. To make things even more complicated, the will is lost so the ex-wife comes up with the crazy plan to hold a seance and ask Julian himself who he would like to carry on his magical legacy. Will Callum and Tabatha find themselves in danger if they get too close to the killer? Out of all his family, who will Julian entrust his legacy to? Will Julian’s magical family fall apart without their patriarch? Is Tabatha destined for law school like he parents wanted now that her mentor is dead?

This fantasy is fun because it is different than a lot of fantasies. You have people with magical abilities, but they do not use it for everything and it takes a great deal of training. Also, you have people hungry for the power that comes with powerful spells and magical knowledge. Finally, there is a mystery element that keeps the plot twisting and turning all throughout the book. The characters are decently fleshed out so that when the ending is revealed you can see everyone for who they truly are (and what their motivations are), which isn’t necessarily how they were first presented. Recommended for fantasy lovers.

Stardust in their Veins by Laura Sebastian

Published April 19, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

This sequel to Castles In Their Bones follows the two remaining sisters, Daphne and Beatriz in the wake of Sophronia’s death. Daphne is still in denial that their mother could have had anything to do with her sister’s death and partly blames Sophronia for failing in the mission they have been trained to do since birth. Beatriz, meanwhile, has been imprisoned along with her husband for treason. Luckily, there are people willing to risk everything in order to help these sisters avenge Sophie and they do not want those efforts to be in vain. As Beatriz starts to explore the real possibility that she is an emphyrea she quickly learns that whatever her magical strength is is not a common one. Daphne is determined to find out exactly what happened to Sophie while also taking everything with a grain of salt, because up until now she has never had any reason to question what her mother tells her and it feels unnatural to stop trusting her now. As the stakes get higher, both sisters must choose where their loyalties lay in order to make the tough decisions they know are ahead. Can they get to the truth about their mother’s plan for them? How do the circumstances surrounding their birth explain their paths in life? Will they ever feel whole again without Sophie?

This was one of the most satisfying sequels that has been published in a while and fans will clamor for another installment. The plight of Beatriz and Daphne is so real and carefully created so that the reader cannot help but feel their anger, desperation, and pain as the true actions of their mother come to light. The action is so vivid that it’s easy to get caught up with both of their stories as the chapters switch between them. The characters are all really well described and despite how many there are, it’s easy to really become engrossed with what is happening with the supporting characters as well as the sisters. Highly Recommended.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

Published March 23, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Jani and her sister, Zosa, have been on their own since their mother died and Jani definitely feels like she’s responsible for helping her sister find a fulfilling, happy life as a singer. When it’s announced that Hotel Magnifique will be coming to their town she is filled with hope that this could be the chance they have been waiting for. Hotel Magnifique is a magical hotel that appear in a different city every day and moves again at midnight. People are awarded entrance if they are lucky enough to be given a ticket. Each ticket is good for a two week stay and then they magically appear back in their town with no memory of the hotel at all apart from the fact they were there. Magic is deemed dangerous and unpredictable, so allowing those who contain magic to live and work in this hotel is supposed to help keep magic safe. Zosa is allowed entry to the hotel because of her singing voice, but Jani is denied both a ticket and a job and must remain behind. She refuses to allow Zosa to go without her and the hotel sends someone named Bel to collect her before the hotel moves at midnight. Jani ends up striking a deal with Bel and he agrees to get her a job as a maid on a trial basis. When they get to the hotel she is required to sign a contract, the same as everyone who enters, and she quickly learns that there are many things about this hotel that simply do not make sense. Every time she asks a question or sees something she shouldn’t, she is threatened with severe punishments. Plus, her sister is taken away and she has no idea how she is or how she’s being treated. As Jani’s friendship with Bel begins to grow, she learns that there are many secrets in this hotel that she would like to get to the bottom of before it’s too late to reconnect with her sister and she forgets her old life forever. Can she find out why they have hidden her sister away? What secrets is Bel hiding about both the hotel and himself? Why do the promises in the contract she is forced to sign seem to influence her differently than everybody else?

Fans of fantasy books will enjoy this very unique tale about a girl trying to unravel the many secrets of this magical hotel. There are many characters to keep track of, but they all end up being important to the story and its resolution. The ending has many big reveals and twists that readers will enjoy as they follow along with Jani on this crazy journey of discovery. Jani’s love for her sister is a central motivator for everything she does and it’s easy to see what motivates others along the way too and why they may or may not be willing to help her. This is really a very captivating fantasy story with a lot of surprising plot elements.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

Published October 4, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Seven families in Ilvernath fight every generation for access to the high magick. Each family puts forth a competitor and they fight until the death and the winner/survivor’s family gets to control the high magick until the next Blood Moon determines it’s time for a new battle. Up until now this has been a secret arrangement, but an anonymous author recently wrote a tell-all book telling the world all about the bloody battle and suddenly the small town of Ilvernath has been flooded with reporters and tourists trying to see who will be chosen to represent the seven families. Each candidate has their reasons for wanting to represent their family and many have plans for how to outmaneuver the other contestants, but at what cost? What are they willing to sacrifice in order to secure that power for their families? Is there any way to bring this terrible curse to an end?

Each chapter focuses on a different candidate so that you can really see each of their perspectives. Alastair is a Lowe and they have historically won the most times and therefore he feels like he is expected to bring home that win even though he does not feel like his family is particularly supportive of him. Isobel was thrust into the spotlight first and as such seems to have a target on her back from everyone else. Gavin is from the Grieve family who not only rarely wins, but is believed to be the family behind the infamous book. Each character can agree that he or she does not want to die, but in the end they know that some must in order for them to survive. This is a dark tale with a new spin on magical abilities. Fans of Three Dark Crowns and other darker fantasy stories will be eager to see the second installment of this tale.

Castles In Their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Published April 15, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Beatriz, Sophronia, and Daphne are princesses and triplets who were raised for the sole purpose of marrying the three nearby princes so that their mother could secretly find weaknesses that would allow her to invade and someday rule all of the land. They understood their purpose and endured a lifetime of training in poisons, code breaking, fighting, seductions, and so much more. Yet, once they are all sent to their new kingdoms things are not as simple as they first appeared and they start to realize there is more at play than they originally thought. Daphne arrives to find that her situation has changed irrevocably just prior to her arrival and is scrambling to re-strategize. Beatriz really likes her prince, but there is a problem that neither of them can ignore regarding their relationship. Sophronia, considered by their mother to be the weakest, starts to notice discrepancies in the way the kingdom collects and spends taxpayer dollars and starts to believe her and her new husband could potentially be really good rulers…if she doesn’t let her mother’s plotting get in the way. Can the three sisters who are so far from each other work together to untangle all the betrayals and secrets? How will they know who they can truly trust?

This exciting plot twists and turns from the beginning right up to the end. Fans of Grace and Fury and The Ash Princess series will devour this book and clamor for more. The three main characters are all placed in very different yet equally precarious situations that they must figure out largely on their own. All of them uncover betrayals and secrets that leave them shocked, which is saying something considering they were all raised with the sole purpose of overthrowing kingdoms. Their mother, while not a big character, is felt throughout the story and clearly has more power than even they could have predicted. The ending reveals some answers, but there are still many more to be had. Recommended.

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu

Published September 24, 2021 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Number of Pages: 296

The princesses of Ever were all cursed by a witch, Regan, five years ago. On their 13th birthday, each of them has lost something. Jane, the oldest, lost the ability to eat. Although she has not died she has withered away and become very weak and feeble. Meanwhile, her sisters lost the ability to sleep, love, remember, and hope, respectively. At the same time they were cursed their mother was frozen into a glass box overlooking the kingdom. The witch who cast the curse did so in a fit of rage and didn’t properly think through the repercussions. The king seems unperturbed by his family getting cursed and still seems happy and well adjusted, despite his wife and daughters’ suffering. Also, the princesses must break the curse before the Regan’s 18th birthday…which is in five days. As the princesses and Regan work together to try and break the curse they realize they may not be as different as they previously thought. They also begin to uncover a lot of secrets the kingdom has been hiding. Is it too late to save everyone? Can they bring back happiness to EVERYONE in the kingdom and not just the royalty? Can royalty and witches come together in harmony without fighting for power?

This fantasy story is unique, which fantasy fans will enjoy. The characters are all well developed and the plot has several twists and turns that will surprise the reader, but are completely supported by the set up of the story. The female characters are all strong and brave in their own way and they begin to see they have been deceived by the king, the most powerful man in the kingdom. The ending is very exciting and satisfying, which will leave readers wanting more. Recommended for fantasy fans.

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

Published January 11, 2021 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Number of Pages: 376 p.

Anouk was created by a witch who uses her as a maid and refuses to let her outside the house they live in. She calls her a “beastie” because Anouk was originally an animal. She is not the only “beastie”, however, as the witch has also created several others who perform other functions around the house. Anouk has always been relatively happy, even though she is severely punished whenever she makes the witch mad, but she knows her fellow beasties are not so happy. When Anouk discovers the witch murdered in her bedroom she knows she and the others will be blamed so they go on a quest to try and find another spell to keep them human, but they only have three days before the original spell fades and they become animals once again. Can they find a way to stay human? Can they find out who killed their master?

This fantasy story is full of suspense and adventure as Anouk and her siblings strive to clear their names and stay human. Along the way they meet several interesting creatures, but not all of their intentions are pure and it’s difficult for them to know who they can trust. The author does a nice job of introducing the reader to this fantasy world and it’s easy to see this is only the beginning. The first in a series, this is recommended for fans of the Cassandra Clare novels.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Published September 29, 2020 Fantasy 1 Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

# of Pages: 286

Tavia has known she is a siren for awhile, but in a world where it is not safe to admit being a siren she must keep her voice quiet at all times.  She’s even gone so far as to explain her silence with a rare medical condition and learn sign language so she can communicate even when she knows it isn’t safe to speak.  In this world, all sirens are black girls which makes Tavia’s plight even more difficult because she is already facing sexism and racism on a daily basis.  Effie has lived with Tavia for awhile and they have come to think of themselves as sisters.  Effie’s mother died and her grandparents thought it would be better if she lived with Tavia’s family, but did not disclose the reason(s) why.  Effie is not a siren, but she knows there is something strange going on because recently she has faced many unusual physical changes, including extremely dry  and flaky skin, exhaustion, and sometimes even blackouts. It scares her that she doesn’t know what is happening, but she’s hopeful that maybe it will get better with time.  They know they always have each other to lean on, but they are both shaken when a murder trial becomes national news only because the murder victim is accused of being a siren.  Does simply being a siren mean someone can kill you and get away with it? What would happen if anyone were to find out Tavia is a siren?  Can they protect each other from the terrible things destined to come for both of them?

There are not a lot of fantasy novels that feature two black teenagers as the main characters and the author does a nice job of showing why life would be even more difficult as a supernatural being if you were already dealing with people not granting you basic rights due to physical features beyond your control.  Both of these girls know the adults in their life are trying to protect them, but in the end it just feels like they are withholding important information.  The fantasy details of the story is unique, inspiring, and revealed in a satisfying way.  Fans looking for a very thought provoking, modern fantasy story will enjoy.

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