A Poison Dark and Drowning

June 15, 2017
Alternative-Victorian magical intrigue, monstrous Lovecraft-ian abominations, and torrid romantic entanglements all intensify in the second of an enthralling fantasy series following A Shadow Bright and Burning (2016). Henrietta Howel--sick of pretending to be the prophesied "savior" and panicked by her childhood love's transformation into a shadow of the Seven Ancients--convinces her sorcerer friends to adopt the weapons of the outlawed magicians and even persuades a witch-in-hiding to employ her illegal craft. But none of Henrietta's secrets or lies proves as devastating as those buried in her own past. Middle books are notoriously tricky, but Cluess executes every beat with panache. The overarching narrative of the sorcerers' war advances apace, as momentary triumph unravels into complications, setbacks, betrayals, and disasters. The world remains default white and straight, but it contains hints of racial diversity among the magicians along with a gay relationship. The divisions and entanglements among the three branches of magic are further explored, and the deliciously horrific Ancients unfurl ever more grotesque maleficence. Secondary characters introduced mostly to help, thwart, or admire Henrietta begin to develop their own storylines, while Henrietta learns how heavily the price of her impulsiveness and deceit falls upon innocents. And although the romantic polygon centered on Henrietta is superficially resolved, this only ratchets up the underlying tensions. Anyone who enjoyed the first title will adore this sequel and be on tenterhooks for the next. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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July 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Henrietta Howell returns with a new agenda: to save the one she loves. However, others have different plans for her. The magicians want her to be a leader, and the sorcerers want her to lie. There are those who believe that she is still the chosen one. Henrietta goes up against more monsters and demons. As in A Shadow Bright and Burning, Henrietta proves to be a confident and clever heroine. The transformation of Rook (her childhood friend and romantic interest) in this second installment will intrigue readers-even after they think that Henrietta has forgotten about him. While the protagonist is determined to find the truth, she meets plenty of challenges along the way, including a cast of characters who are just as conniving as she. As in the previous volume, Cluess keeps the action moving in the right direction. Fans will anxiously wait for the conclusion to this romantic and magical fantasy series. VERDICT Outstanding character development and an engaging setting will make this entry in the trilogy one that most young adult collections should have.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

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