by A. G. Howard
First published 2024
Nix Loring enters Mystiquel to confront the Goblin King and shatter her family's curse. She discovers her twin sister Lark imprisoned for three years, forced to fuel the magical realm through her imagination. Nix sacrifices herself to free Lark, becoming the new captive tasked with restoring beauty to a devastated world. She grows unexpectedly attached to the faerie creatures in her care and finds herself conflicted by her feelings toward the Goblin King. Meanwhile, back home, her uncle and boyfriend plot her rescue. But Lark seethes with resentment, having learned that Nix was always meant to be the Goblin King's prisoner. Lark harbors a dangerous secret that threatens to destroy everything she has left. As the rescue approaches, darkness consumes Lark from within. She faces an agonizing choice between saving her sister and claiming the revenge she believes she deserves.
Genres: fantasy, dark-fantasy, fantasy-romance, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, sacrifice
Setting: Mystiquel
384 pages · Hardcover · Bloomsbury YA
Content warnings: emotional-abuse, violence