A Dark and Hollow Star

December 15, 2020
When the leaders of the magical community turn their backs on a spreading series of murders, dark magic and intrigue draw four young rebels together in this modern fantasy. Eight Fae Courts rule the Mortal Realm of magic, but, despite their supposed peace with one another, prejudice runs rampant against anyone who isn't sidhe, particularly the ironborn whose red blood signifies human parentage. When the Courts dismiss a string of unsolved ironborn murders, four unlikely allies join forces to investigate. Chapters primarily rotate among the perspectives of Nausica�, an exiled Fury with blond hair and suntanned skin who wields a katana; Vehan, a blue-eyed, golden-skinned prince of the Seelie Court of Summer; Aurelian, the prince's lesidhe retainer and childhood best friend, who has light tan skin; and Arlo, a white-skinned ironborn girl who is related to the High King. The plot offers high stakes, simmering romantic tension, political drama, refreshingly casual representation of queer and transgender characters, and an intriguing magic system that draws inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons. However, the story suffers from consistent, frequent reinforcement of skinny and muscular bodies as most beautiful, with descriptions that quickly grow tiresome. A gripping flight into fantasy that is heavy-handed in its presentation of conventional beauty standards. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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January 4, 2021
When someone starts slaying human-fae hybrids (dubbed “ironborn” for their blood’s composition), Toronto teen Arlo Jarsdel knows she should lie low. Though her mother is fae, her father is mortal, and she has yet to mature into any powers she could use to defend herself. The Fae Courts’ High King blames the crimes on reckless former Fury and known murderer Nausicaä Kraken—a theory Arlo endorses until Nausicaä saves her life. Against her better judgment (and despite being grounded), Arlo teams up with Nausicaä to catch the real culprit. Aiding their investigation are Nevada teen Vehan Lysterne—a fae prince who believes the attacks are part of a larger plot—and his steward, fellow fae Aurelian Bessel. Sparks fly between Arlo and Nausicaä, while unrequited love complicates Vehan and Aurelian’s already thorny relationship. First in a planned duology, Shuttleworth’s queer urban fantasy debut combines figures from Greek myth and European folklore with elements of tabletop RPGs. If the story feels overstuffed, with villains who all but twirl their mustaches, Shuttleworth sensitively tackles the plot’s darker elements, including trauma and suicidal ideation, tempering them with tenderness and wry wit. A kaleidoscopic narrative adds depth and drive. Ages 14–up. Agent: Mandy Hubbard, Emerald City Literary.

January 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Faeries secretly live alongside humans, but an outbreak of magical violence threatens the peace. Humans are disappearing and ironborn, half-fae and half-human, are being magically murdered. In Toronto, ironborn Arlo witnesses a murder and is compelled to find answers. When her uncle the High King refuses to seriously investigate, she teams up with two teen fae and one exiled immortal to solve the mysteries. The faerie fantasy market is saturated, but the distinctive feature of this series starter is the four queer main characters who have a range of skin tones. Numerous secondary characters have diverse gender identities, creating multiple opportunities for deftly handled discussions of respectful pronoun usage, crafted by an author who uses they/them pronouns. Characters are vivid, with motivating, sometimes mysterious, backstories. The high stakes of the plot are balanced with humor, particularly from the irreverent and snarky Nausica�. Shuttleworth weaves together multiple mythologies: Greco-Roman Furies and dieties, Irish faerie lore, Western alchemy, the seven sins of Christianity, and the format and tools of modern role player games. The resulting vocabulary may cause confusion, and the complex world-building is accomplished through detailed exposition that sometimes interrupts the plot. While the main mystery is solved, unanswered questions will motivate readers to continue the series. Many young adults will love this novel's stellar queer representation, as well as the oft-repeated refrain that the adults should be the ones handling this mess. VERDICT A promising opener to an urban faerie fantasy series featuring multiple queer identities.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P.L., IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 29, 2021
Grades 9-12 In their debut novel, Shuttleworth blends Greek mythology, Irish folklore, alchemical science, and Dungeons and Dragons in a highly entertaining but overstuffed urban fantasy. Eight Courts of Folk rule the hidden, magical side of the Mortal Realm, protecting humans and magical folk from each other. Yet a recent string of ironborn (human-fae hybrids) murders have sparked only a cursory investigation, culminating in the High King blaming the notorious Dark Star, an ex-fury named Nausica�. Four queer teens--Toronto ironborn Arlo; Vehan, the Seelie Summer prince of Nevada; Aurelian, Vehan's devoted retainer; and Nausica� herself--distrust the official story. The characters unite as they uncover clues to a grand conspiracy involving forbidden alchemy, corrupt courts, meddling immortals, and one ironborn at a fated crossroads. Tongue-in-cheek pop-culture references and snarky humor balance well with dark but sensitive portrayals of emotional trauma caused by abusive or negligent adults. The clever world building, romantic undercurrents, and high-stakes plot are distinctive enough to weather uneven pacing and exposition. This first in a planned duology should be a hit.

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