TO A DARKER SHORE

A fat, autistic teen risks her life to save her kingdom and the boy she loves.

In Soladisa, young people are sacrificed to the monster Teras to protect the citizens from its wrath for another season. When shepherdess Alesta’s best friend, Kyrian, the presumed heir to the throne, is sacrificed, she longs for revenge. She sets off for the island of Orroccio, where Teras dwells, to kill the beast and end the sacrifices once and for all—a feat others have attempted in vain. There, Alesta is surprised to learn that Kyr lives, albeit in a new and monstrous form, and as the two travel deeper into the monster’s domain, they discover unexpected truths about their world. Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, the story offers a fresh take on monster tales, neatly demonstrating the ways monstrousness and humanity are two sides of the same coin. Equally fascinating is the fantastical world the characters occupy, which has clear parallels to our own world and where reality and the official truth do not always align. Alesta and Kyr, who present as autistic, are easy heroes to root for, well drawn and compelling in their matching stubbornness and authentic care for each other. Alesta's journey, from internalizing hateful comments about her body to accepting it as it is, is nuanced and affirming. Alesta and Kyr have tan skin; queer love stories play important roles in the narrative.

Rich worldbuilding and lovable characters make this trip to hell worthwhile.