Wicked As You Wish

December 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-A mashup of multiple fairy tales set in modern-day Arizona. Tala and her family can negate magical spells, a talent that doesn't often see use in their small town where most magical items don't function well anyway. When Tala's family is tasked with helping to hide the prince of the lost kingdom of Avalon and the prince's enemies come looking for him, Tala and her newfound friends must band together to save the prince. This novel takes the modern world as we know it and adds two major twists: the United States of America becomes the Royal States of America, with a reigning monarch, and all major fairy-tale stories are now real events in history because magic is real. A lack of world-building before the plot begins leaves readers confused about what this world is like and how to navigate it. Further, a large cast of characters is left mostly undeveloped, making it difficult to differentiate between them. Tala is Filipina and there are brief moments where her heritage shines, but it takes a back seat to the mostly European and Slavic fairy-tale stories that are the backbone of this novel. Use of phrases such as "absolute unit" and "I was today years old" will date this story within a few years' time. VERDICT Direct readers who enjoy retold fairy tales to Marissa Meyer's "Cinder" series instead. An additional purchase for libraries where Chupeco's other works are popular.-Jenni Frencham, Indiana University, Bloomington

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
A cursed prince and a girl whose presence stops magic join forces to regain the kingdom of Avalon from the Snow Queen. Prince Alexei of Avalon has lived incognito since the Snow Queen ensnared his home kingdom in ice. He is now in hiding with Tala's family in Arizona, keeping his identity and Tala's spell-breaking a secret given the illegality of magic in the Royal States of America. When the fabled firebird, Avalon's protector, arrives in Arizona, Alex, Tala, and a group sent by the mysterious leader Cheshire return to Avalon in an attempt to defeat the Snow Queen once and for all. Mythology and folklore from around the world, including King Arthur, Yamato Takeru, and El Cid, meet in a single world. This mishmash does not overwhelm but instead makes for an intriguing read. Fantastical events such as the fall of Wonderland are woven seamlessly with emotionally charged real-world elements such as racist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Tala is Scottish and Filipina, allowing for exploration of immigration and diasporic communities. Alex is gay, and other characters are nonbinary, disabled, adopted, and of various ethnicities. Incorporating modern sensibilities and a sprawling world drawn from fairy tales, Chupeco (The Never Tilting World, 2019, etc.) has brought readers a truly original novel.A deftly executed melding of folklore and reality grounded in contemporary issues. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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Starred review from January 13, 2020
Combining legends, myths, fairy tales, and classic children’s literature from Oz to Neverland, Chupeco (The Bone Witch) creates an enchanting story that is both a feast for the senses and a unique spin on the hero’s journey. Tala Warnock is a Makiling, a spellbreaker, living with her Scottish and Filipino family in the Royal States of America, where ICE hunts refugees from other magical lands. Tala’s best friend, Prince Alexei, is the hidden heir to Avalon, a world of advanced spelltech that is unbreachable after the Wonderland Wars against the Snow Queen. When Alex turns 18 and a firebird appears to guide him back to Avalon, Tala joins a gang of Banders sworn to protect him and fight the Snow Queen’s powers. As Tala learns more about her family and her own strengths, she discovers a fate in Avalon she never expected. Chupeco’s novel teems with exhilarating wizardry, from ice wolves to a marsh king in the form of a giant toad. Though the beginning is heavily weighted with background information, the pace quickens into a nail-biting quest that introduces a gripping new series. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary Agency. (Mar.)■

February 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 Of all the denizens of tiny Invierno, Arizona, only Tala and her family know that unassuming Alex Smith is really Prince Alexei, the last scion of the Kingdom of Avalon. He's hiding out from the agents of the Ice Queen of Beira, the tyrant responsible for encasing Avalon in ice. When the legendary firebird of Avalon suddenly descends upon Invierno, it is cause for both celebration and worry. While the firebird's appearance signifies hope for Alex to uncurse his lost home, it also helps the Ice Queen's minions pinpoint Alex's location. Luckily, Tala and her family have their own magic, rooted in Filipino traditions, to defend their charge. Chupeco's world building is a marvel, taking fairy tales and legends from all cultures and weaving them into an all-encompassing alternate history packed with wonder and whimsy. At the same time, it manages to capture the worries and joys of contemporary teen life. Readers looking for a vibrant, Harry Potteresque fantasy full of secrets, spies, magic, monsters, and mayhem need look no further.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)