These Hollow Vows

May 24, 2021
Ivory-skinned Abriella Kincaid, 17, refuses to consort with faeries, as her mother ran off with one nine years ago, forcing Abriella and her sister Jasalyn, 14, into indentured servitude. When the teens’ contract-holder sells Jas to sadistic Unseelie ruler King Mordeus, though, Brie vows to do whatever it takes to save her. Golden-skinned Seelie prince Ronan reportedly wants to marry a mortal, so Brie enters the faerie realm posing as a potential bride; she knows there’s an inter-court portal and hopes to use it to liberate Jas. But Mordeus foils her rescue, and demands that Brie steal items from the Seelie palace in exchange for Jas’s freedom. Brie has no qualms about double-crossing Ronan, and teams with light brown–skinned Unseelie rebel Finn to plan her heist. Then she learns that Ronan has been for two years living as a human—one for whom she has feelings. Romance author Ryan’s YA fantasy debut offsets florid prose and familiar tropes with tight plotting, efficient worldbuilding, and escalating stakes. Tension stemming from a swoon-worthy love triangle drives the tale when the action ebbs, and the denouement hints at a sequel. Ages 14–up. Agent: Dan Mandel, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc.

April 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Brie, a white 17-year-old human, relies on the shadows to survive, thieving in the dark from rich merchants who trade humans to the untrustworthy fae. When her younger sister is sold to the Unseelie king, Brie doesn't hesitate in making a deal to free her by stealing from the rival Seelie queen. Infiltrating the Seelie court by posing as a potential bride for their golden-skinned crown prince is complicated first when Brie falls for him, and again when an enigmatic Unseelie with light brown skin and a diverse band of outlaws offers his help. Juggling loyalty to and romantic feelings for both Prince Ronan and Finn, Brie soon discovers that she isn't the only one with a secret agenda in a realm more nuanced than she originally believed. Engaging writing and worldbuilding help balance the uneven pacing and familiar tropes, while unexpected betrayals and a darker romantic tone lend to a faster second half. A cliffhanger ending sets up a compelling hook and chance at meaningful character growth for Brie in the sequel. VERDICT A readable faerie court fantasy that centers the love triangle over the action quest. Readers will see similarities to Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses and Kiera Cass's The Selection.-Madeline Newquist, Center for Fiction, Brooklyn, NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2021
Brie risks the deadly land of the Fae to save her sister. Brie doesn't trust many people other than Jas, her eternally hopeful sister, and Sebastian, mage apprentice and Brie's secret love (as if she had time for romance). Brie struggles to meet the payments for the magical contracts binding their lives to Madame Vivias, supplementing her cleaning work by stealing from the rich. While the land of Faerie tempts other girls with word of a castle, a lavish ball, and a fae prince seeking a wife, Brie mistrusts the creatures who capitalize on humanity's greed. When Jas' contract is sold to the fae, Brie braves the golden Seelie queen's court, meets the noble Prince Ronan, and travels on to the Unseelie king's shadow court. In the process she discovers love, historical secrets, atrocities, and her own hidden strength. While many elements regarding the fae and a love triangle will feel familiar to fans of the genre, and the magic could have been more fleshed out, discussions of power, inequity, trust, and hope expand the worldbuilding in refreshing ways. Similarly, consideration of the balance between truth and secrets, lies and stories, is intriguing as it's applied to characters, relationships, and historical lore. Despite certain predictable reveals, the plot itself, which starts off slowly, picks up and is pleasantly convoluted with multiple satisfying surprises. Major human characters read as White. An entertaining fantasy set in a world that readers will want to revisit. (Fantasy. 13-16)

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July 1, 2021
Grades 10-12 Cinderella gets another, somewhat gritty retelling in this first YA novel by romance novelist Ryan. Brie, trapped by a series of increasingly debilitating debt payments to her aunt after her mother abandoned her, steals from the rich to make ends meet. In a world touched by faeries, however, sometimes more money just isn't enough. Both faeries and magic-wielding humans can end up in life contracts, trading for the bare necessities when there's no other choice. When one of the faerie queens announces a ball, Brie has no intention of going. Then her little sister is sold to faerie slave traders, and Brie is spurred into action, though she'll need the help of handsome neighbor Sebastian and a goblin called Bakken. Caught up in the millennia-long war between the evil Unseelie faeries and the good Seelie faeries, Brie falls hard for the magical creatures she's always feared. Ryan is an established romance novelist, and while there's a decent amount of romance here, it's not the primary focus. Recommended for larger libraries with sf/fantasy readers.

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