All That Glows

December 15, 2013
A paranormal romance that's notable for its Fae protagonist's honest examination of what loving a mortal will cost her. When Emrys Leoflic is sent to London to guard the partying British prince Richard, she considers her reassignment to be a punishment from Queen Mab. What she doesn't expect--though readers may--is her swift fall for the attractive, good-hearted Richard. Graudin sidesteps complete predictability with Emrys' inner thoughts, which reveal her gradual acknowledgement of her true feelings for Richard and, later, her growing understanding of what a commitment to him will mean: the loss of her immortality and magic. Meanwhile, an ancient power threatens the safety of the entire royal family, desirous of the powerful blood magic they unwittingly possess. Emrys' metaphor-heavy first-person narration chronicles the agony she endures in both deciding her own fate and attempting to protect Richard and his family from a veiled but powerful threat. While much of the story is run-of-the-mill, the intense emotional upheaval Emrys experiences as she chooses between the life she has known and the man she loves will feel achingly real to empathetic readers. Paranormal romance fans will come away with a heroine they can both root and care for. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Emrys of the Fae has been given a new assignment: Guard the life of England's Prince Richard. The young royal has frustrated all the previous guards with his wild ways, but Emrys sees beyond his bad boy act and forms an instant connection with him. She allows Richard to see her, something the Fae are not supposed to do, and the attraction between the two is ignited. Meanwhile, dark forces are gathering to destroy the mortal world, and the British monarchy is the focus of their efforts. Once the royals are eliminated, all protection for other mortals will be gone, clearing the way for evil underworld forces to claim the world as theirs alone. When Richard becomes king after the assassination of his father, Emrys readies herself for attacks on Richard's life, but it soon becomes clear that the battle is bigger than she imagined and there are very few she can trust. Her love for Richard leaves her with a choice-a mortal life with him or life as a Fae apart from Richard forever. Filled with action, humor, and romance, All that Glows is an engaging debut.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2014
Grades 8-11 Beautiful Emrys is a member of the Faery Guard and old by human standards (she remembers Camelot), but she is still a relative youngling among her people. She is therefore considered the ideal candidate to provide invisible protection for the teenage heir to the British throne, the fun-loving and very Prince Harrylike Prince Richard. Sparks fly, however, when she meets the prince, and she cannot resist abandoning her invisibility and revealing herself to him, beginning a whirlwind romance. But when Richard's father is assassinated by a rogue Faery power, they must fight for their lives as well as their love. Blending otherworldly glamour with contemporary glitz and suspense with passion, this book offers a lot to fantasy fans. Emrys' adventure takes her from the shores of tar-dark lochs to the flourishing, gold-leafed ceilings of Windsor Castle. Though the writing occasionally suffers from awkward missteps, Emrys' tale of romance and intrigue should appeal to fans of Holly Black's Tithe (2002), Valiant (2005), and Ironside (2007) and Maggie Stiefvater's Lament (2008) and Ballad (2009).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)