THE NIGHT KING'S COURT

A young woman seeks answers about her father’s disappearance in the mysterious castle where he was employed.

Ida Rosales was 9 when her father, Tomas, left home to serve as Court Luminaire to King Aurel IV. Months later, another man was named Court Luminaire, leaving Ida and her mother, Gisela, with no explanation as to Tomas’ whereabouts or proof that he’d ever worked at the castle of Asteria. Seven years later, Ida runs away to become the next Court Luminaire, determined to uncover the truth about what happened to her father. She impresses the king with her magical abilities and is awarded a provisional one-year appointment to the post. Now a member of the court, Ida must assimilate into the enchanting world of nightly revels and create unbelievable spectacles for the nobility, all while secretly searching for traces of her father. But no one seems to remember a Tomas Rosales—not even the king. Ida befriends winter spirit Vegard and Lenore, the king’s beautiful, illegitimate daughter, both of whom are missing memories from seven years ago and believe Ida may be the key to unlocking dark secrets that lurk in Asteria. Bonnin’s lush worldbuilding creates an immersive, fairy-tale-like story that feels like an enticing glimpse into a larger world. A sweet Sapphic romance burns slowly and quietly between Ida and Lenore. Ida inherited some of her father’s Niresso traits, including darker features and tan skin; other characters are Arreden and cued fantasy-white.

Entrancing.