FROM THE NIGHTLY SHORE

A teen loner discovers a world of magic filled with friends and enemies in this YA fantasy debut.

Sixteen-year-old Corbin White is on a train bound for Pennsylvania. His distant but domineering father, a military officer, has pulled him from military school to live with Uncle Jerry in Burke, Pennsylvania. Corbin takes the attic bedroom and resumes having nightmares featuring dark humanoid silhouettes and an “evil presence” dragging him underwater. Later, at a student assembly in school, he sees one of the silhouettes and knows “things are only going to get worse.” Corbin begins taking refuge in the school library. In a copy of Treasure Island, he finds a note from someone named Jacob asking to meet at the tennis courts. Jacob tells Corbin that he saw him choose the book in a dream and that they are members of a special group called “cigans.” They can see and manipulate elemental “mana” in a hidden energy field. Corbin soon joins Jacob’s group and prepares for battle against the shadowy “stalkers” and another group called the “sciran,” who feed on mana. He’s eager to belong, but is the situation as black and white as it seems? Buechele gives his YA debut mystery by framing the book as Corbin’s journal, and several pages have been “ripped out” in key passages. While the narrative establishes magical rules, including that stalkers can’t follow the heroes on roads, such worldbuilding often takes a dramatic back seat to the teenage dynamics of fitting in (or suddenly not) and shaping identity. Joining the wrestling team and caring for the dog Cosmo give Corbin agency. The slow-burning romance with Jamie, Jacob’s sister, takes a unique turn when he reveals, “I know I don’t like guys. But I’ve never been interested in girls either.” An additional mystery gooses the plot’s second half. Corbin’s potential for both good and evil primes fans for a rewarding sequel.

Sharply drawn teen emotions outshine well-trod fantasy elements in this YA debut.