A Ruinous Fate

November 1, 2022
Calla struggles with her cursed luck as the Fates turn against her. In Illustros, a land of witches, Valkyries, sirens, and other fantastical creatures, Calliope Rosewood hides her cursed Siphon magic, having already fled her home numerous times out of fear of discovery. Not only must Calla glamour her mismatched Siphon eyes, one violet and one honey colored, but even when they were in a relationship she kept some distance from Ezra, lest he discover the unlucky Rolls of Fate from Witch's Dice magically tattooed onto her arm. After a gambling bet goes wrong and Calla rolls another cursed six, making her the Blood Warrior for the Fates, she goes on a quest to the Neverending Forest to find the Witch Eater who can erase her rolls. She's accompanied by Ezra and his brother, Gideon; Onyx witches Kestrel and Caspian; and her friends, siren Delphine and Rouge witch Hannah. While the exploration of powerful godly Fates and the possibility of self-determination are intriguing, the book gets bogged down in clich�s, clunky worldbuilding, and awkward descriptions of fight scenes. Calla's witty narration and ongoing friendships with Delphine and Hannah are positive and empowering, but they become overwhelmed by complicated relationship drama. Calla's internal battle between her socially acceptable Rouge magic and suppressed Siphon powers is well depicted, covering the importance of self-acceptance as well as the limitations of binary frameworks. Calla reads White; the remaining cast mostly appears fantasy diverse. An intriguing premise that fails to soar. (map) (Fantasy. 12-17)

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December 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 Calla has spent years on the run from the coven queen, who is hell-bent on killing her before she can complete her six rolls of the Witch's Dice and become the Blood Warrior destined to end magic in Illustros. A run of bad luck lands Calla a place as an auction item, so she forms a tenuous alliance with Ezra, her untrustworthy crush (who--surprise!--is a whole prince), and his ill-fated brother on a journey to find the Witch Eater, who can alter fates . . . for the right price. The complex, layered social structure and a magic system powered by emotions are buoyed by witty banter and playful bickering within a diverse cast of characters. Fast-paced action scenes and occasional switches away from Calla's point of view balance out more tedious, dialogue-heavy sections. While the plot seems at times somewhat convoluted, romantic tensions are palpable and compelling, and the emotionally charged, active magic gives deep insight into a fierce, sympathetic main character. A high-stakes, vividly descriptive series opener with a cliff-hanger ending that will have readers clamoring for more.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 28, 2022
The Witch Queens of Illustros must win a war against the Fates to keep their magic and immortality in Smith’s alluring if patchy fantasy debut, a series launch. Though every witch gets six Rolls of Fate with Witch’s Dice, a half-dozen witches are destined to roll all sixes, marking them as Blood Warriors forced to fight against their kin in service of the Fates; the rest are magically bound to serve the Witch Queens. After Calla Rosewood rolls her fourth six, she contemplates going on the run with her two friends, fearing she may fall victim to the Witch Queens, who seek to assassinate potential Blood Warriors. But Gideon—the brother of Ezra, Calla’s crush—has also rolled four sixes, and suggests an alternative: an expedition into the deadly Neverending Forest to find the Witch Eater, who can erase their Rolls and change their destinies—for a price. Haphazard worldbuilding and an underdeveloped premise undermine the story’s tension and stakes, but Calla’s struggles toward self-acceptance regarding her abilities adds heart and emotional depth. Playfully antagonistic group dynamics and a kaleidoscopic third-person narrative provides bustling pacing. Calla cues as white; some characters have blue or brown skin. Ages 14–up. Agent: Emily Forney, Bookends Literary.

September 29, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Calliope "Calla" Rosewood is on the run. She is a witch that was cursed with bad luck. When her coven finds out that she is prophesied to end all magic and the world as it is, she doesn't stick around to find out what they have in store for her. Calla isn't on her own though. She takes her two best friends with her and they live as fugitives. On the run, they are caught up in a nightmare made of bad luck. Calla must find a way to get rid of her bad luck and change the future, and there is only one being able to help her. Unfortunately, she must go into the Neverending Forest to find this being, and just her luck, she has to do it with her ex and his brother. She must decide whether altering her fate is worth the consequences that always seem to follow her around. Smith has woven a magical tale similar in feel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The NeverEnding Story. The writing is fast paced and full of magic and adventure. Smith builds her world so that readers will feel they are right there with the characters. There are magical beings of every shape and color with loads of fun powers. VERDICT Any avid reader of fantasy, fairy tales, and adventure stories will enjoy reading this novel.-Rena Gibson

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