Stranger Skies

October 15, 2024
Emory and Baz find themselves separated across time and space in this sequel toCurious Tides (2023). Following the events in the Dovermere sea caves, Emory Ainsleif and Romie Brysden follow in the footsteps of their favorite book, Song of the Drowned Gods, and cross into the Wychwood. Cut off from their friends back at Aldryn College, Emory and Romie befriend a young witch named Aspen Amberyl in hopes of finding another magical door and continuing their journey toward the sea of ash. As the girls travel farther down the starlit path between worlds, they face heightened perils. Back in Emory and Romie's home world, things aren't much better. Baz, Romie's brother, faces immense scrutiny and injustice for being Eclipse-born, and his friend Kai Salonga is hiding from the magical government after escaping from imprisonment. The boys rally their allies to try to help Emory and Romie, but it's difficult to communicate across worlds. All the magic students can do is keep following the song they hear in their dreams. Lacelle continues the strong worldbuilding she established in the previous book, populating the story's new realms with complex systems of magic and interesting mythologies. This sequel takes on a darker tone as the story develops, growing and shifting alongside its characters. Queer representation is present in the form of same-sex love interests and gender-diverse characters. Main characters are cued white. An expansive and engaging sequel that builds on the fresh worldbuilding of the original.(Fantasy. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from November 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In this riveting sequel, Emory is reunited with best friend Romie, whom she believed to be dead. The girls are in the world of the Song of the Drowned Gods, and they have reached the Wychwood. They're given shelter by the locals but held at arm's length from any of the community's rituals. But the daughter of the witches' leader, Aspen, befriends them and helps them follow the song as they make their way to the sea of ash. Meanwhile, Baz is still back at Aldryn College, and he, Kai, and friends Virgil, Nishia, and Vera are desperate to find and join Emory and Romie. When they attempt the ritual, most of them go through the door, but Baz and Kai are swept 200 years into the past with startling results. Amid it all, Song of the Drowned Gods author Cornus Clover has his own insidious scheme involving Emory and her friends. This sequel is as richly written as the first and maintains momentum with unexpected twists. The narrative is extremely complex, yet all the varied pieces fit together perfectly. Emory is more aggressive and "take charge," but she is plagued by ghosts, rising from self-loathing over her previous poor choices. All of the characters are painstakingly drawn and well-rounded. The cliff-hanger ending is a promise for this fantastical trilogy's conclusion.

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December 13, 2024

Gr 9 Up-A YA version of The Magicians for fans of Ava Reid's A Study in Drowning, this sequel resists all the typical middle book pitfalls. After the perilous events of Curious Tides, Emory and Romie reunite in the world of their favorite book, Song of the Drowned Gods, and must follow the song into the Wytchwood to find the next door. Baz is at Aldryn College, where gathered allies try a ritual to cross worlds to Emory and Romie-only for some of them to end up thrown 200 years in the past instead. Antagonist and author of Song of the Downed Gods Cornus Clover has his own plans for the group as Emory and friends struggle to stay a step ahead. Separated across worlds, parallel plots and their striking twists are balanced by Lacelle, ensuring that nearly every detail will be significant later on. Despite the wide cast of characters and new faces, unique characteristics ensure no one gets lost in the narrative and everyone's arc is carefully curated. Emory made questionable decisions in Curious Tides that provide emotional resonance for her character arc and introduce a number of central themes like the cost of fear and pride. A cliffhanger will have readers desperate for the last book. Main characters are white with some diversity in gender and orientation in the cast. VERDICT A complex and highly rewarding series entry that will follow readers beyond the final page. Highly recommended.-Emmy Neal

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