AN UNRELIABLE MAGIC

A group of teenagers grapple with fate, running a kingdom, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Tala Makiling Warnock and her friends may have saved Avalon from the Snow Queen, but there’s more to do. Now serving as king, Alexei Tsarevich must balance doing the right thing with doing the diplomatically responsible thing, making helping refugees locked up in the Royal States of America much more complicated. Tala, meanwhile, is still grappling with uncomfortable revelations about her father and her affinity for the powerful Nameless Sword. As the Snow Queen regroups, seeking revenge, and OzCorp looks to exploit Avalon’s resources, Tala, Alex, and the rest of their friends must face the prophetic facts of their dooms and what they might mean for the fates of both Avalon and their love lives. Picking up immediately where Wicked as You Wish (2020) left off, Chupeco spares no time reviewing the world or past events, which may leave new readers disoriented. Returning fans will note that the strengths of the first book are present. Featuring a diverse ensemble cast—Tala’s mother is Filipina and her father is Scottish, and other characters encompass a variety of ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities—and a magical world packed with references, both large and small, to fairy tales and folklore, this is a whirlwind adventure that balances the fantastic with dreams of how real-world problems might be solved.

A satisfying sequel offering more of what worked so well the first time.