Magic, defined as the power of influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces, figures heavily in all the books I'm recommending this month. Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian (Ash Princess trilogy) introduces triplet princesses conceived through magic so that their conniving mother can expand her empire. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman is set in the country of Ashoka that depends on their soon-to-be depleted quarry filled with magic to protect them from invasion. It is up to the four royal siblings to find a fabled key that will unlock lost quarries that were hidden in the past. Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton is the second installment in the Mirror fairytale series. Zora Broussard, a young black singer who wields magic, flees to New Orleans in the 1920s, after her magic causes a deadly accident in NYC. Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe is a reimagining of The Tempest in which Lord Prosper uses a magical substance to enslave all the spirits on his island. Mae, the daughter of his steward, longs to learn to wield this magic in order to stay on the island once she comes of age.
Castles in their Bones kicks off a new fantasy series which focuses on triplet sisters conceived in magic by their scheming mother Empress Margaraux, who wants to marry them off to expand her rule. Sophronia, Daphne and Beatriz have been betrothed to princes of neighboring kingdoms. They have been tasked with driving their new countries into war against each other so that the Empress can swoop in and gain control. However, Sophronia falls in love with her fiancé, Leopold of Temarin. Daphne's fiancé dies and she is passed to bastard son Bairre of Friv, who becomes an ally. Beatriz finds herself married to Pasquale, the gay prince of Cellaria, where magic is banned. Although platonic, they develop a strong friendship and have plans of their own. The story is told in alternating perspectives of the three princesses, who are trained in poisoning, coding and seduction in order to accomplish their goals. Along with her instructions to be achieved however the girls see fit, the empress has gifted each daughter the ability to pull magic from the stars to grant one wish. The tale is filled with intrigue and changing allegiances as the girls attempt to decide whether to carry out their mother's plan or follow their own hearts. Meanwhile, Margaraux is behind the scenes manipulating characters and situations to her own end. I suspect their being conceived in magic will impact the girls' fates in the sequel.
The Ivory Key is told from the perspectives of four quarreling siblings who must save their country Ashoka from impending war. The tale focuses on them finding the ivory key that will unlock quarries filled with magic which fuels their economy and protects them from invasion. Vira has ascended to the throne after her mother, the maharani, is killed. Brother Kaleb has been wrongfully imprisoned for the assassination. Brother Ronak is planning to rescue Kaleb and flee with him. Sister Riya, who ran away after arguing with their mother, returns to the palaces after two years of working with a group of rebels who want her to spy. The only quarry in Ashoka is running out of magic, but it is rumored that there is a map which will lead them to the key that unlocks the lost quarries, which were closed when the Kamala society sought to control the mining trade. After Vira's fiancé is murdered by the society, she must convince her siblings to band together to help her save their kingdom. The epilogue, told from a fifth perspective, will leave readers anxious for the sequel in this fast-paced duology opener.
Shattered Midnight, the second book in the four-book Mirror fairytale series, (Book 1: Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao) introduces Zora Broussard, a young Black teen who flees to New Orleans from New York during the 1920s, after her magic causes a deadly accident. Living with her Aunt Celine, a high society maven, Zora is expected to become a debutante; however, she sneaks out at night to sing in jazz clubs as "Sweet Willow." Fearing she will cause more harm, she bargains with a local conjure woman to take away her magic. However, in return she must give up her music, which is her connection to Phillip, a White pianist with whom she has fallen in love. Phillip is determined to be with her despite the racial segregation of the era. Zora must decided how love, magic and music figure into her future happiness. What to keep and what to give up.
In Bright Ruined Things, an homage to Shakespeare's The Tempest, Lord Prosper's island teams with a magical substance know as aether that keeps the island's spirits his captives and provides a glamourous life for his descendants. Mae, an outsider who is the orphan of Prosper's steward, worries about being exiled from the island on her 18th birthday. She schemes to find a way to stay and has many prospects. Lady Vivian wants her to marry their sullen eccentric grandson Ivo, who is a powerful magician and heir to Lord Prosper's realm. Granddaughter Coco, Mae's best friend, wants her to leave the island and forge a new life together. Grandson Miles, Mae's secret crush, leads her on in hopes of finding out what Ivo did to his mother, who is now a hopeless addict. First Night, the legendary once-a-year party hosted by the Prosper family, is coming up at which cousin Apolonia's engagement to Rex, magician and son of a rival family, and Mae's engagement to Ivo are to be announced. But all does not go as planned. Mae discovers family secrets and waffles between allegiances to various family members and even Rex, as she desperately tries to find a way to learn magic and secure a place in the family.
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