THE GLOOMLANDS CHRONICLES

Four young friends must put their bravery to the test when dark forces threaten their harmonious world in Rininger’s middle-grade fantasy novel.

As the Gloomlands, a shadowy realm, creeps closer to idyllic Illumara, the parents of spirited pals Karo, Elara, Xander, and Orson are called to battle. Elara’s magic-possessing mother stays behind in Ravenwood, their quiet village, to care for them, but the foursome’s hunger for adventure quickly leads to trouble. Bearing a basket of offerings, they venture into the woods in search of a faerie portal to try to summon one of the mysterious “fae.” Their plan works only too well as they release several mischievous—sometimes menacing—faeries. Among them is a small, flying creature with “delicate wings” and a cunning shapeshifter who wreaks havoc at the market. The youths must find a way to return the fae to their realm before the autumn equinox; if they fail, faeries will flood their peaceful land, and the ancient barrier protecting them from the Gloomlands will be compromised. Karo, meanwhile, is convinced her mothers are keeping a secret about her lineage. Do the faeries have the answers she seeks? From the first page, Rininger deftly immerses readers into an enchanting world occupied by melodic fae, amusing chatty trees, and tiny, whimsical house trolls. The author balances fantastical elements with relatable ordinary life as the characters grapple with issues of identity, disharmony, and long-harbored family secrets while journeying toward self-discovery. The pacing could be improved by trimming some of the dialogue and day-to-day minutiae, but the novel’s diverse cast, fascinating folklore, and beautifully descriptive prose enrich the tale. (“Her long violet hair, adorned with colorful wildflower petals, cascaded down her back, and she wore an opal gown that shimmered like moonlight against her dark skin,” Rininger writes of a fae.) This imaginative debut will capture the heart and imagination of any adventure-loving middle-grade reader.

An atmospheric, spellbinding fantasy brimming with adventure, magic, and delightfully strange creatures.