SEASONS OF FLESH AND FLAME

Twin sisters navigate life after a magical adventure in 2022’s Shades of Rust and Ruin.

Lark, previously believed dead, has returned to Astoria, Oregon, to pick up her life, although to do so she must impersonate her twin sister, Nix. Meanwhile, alternate chapters follow Nix, who’s now the Architect and savior of Mystiquiel, the faerie land where Lark lived, loved, and broke everything. Neither sister is entirely sympathetic, particularly angry, embittered Lark, who seems intent upon blaming others, especially Nix, for the consequences of her own choices. Meanwhile, in Mystiquiel, Nix negotiates her longing for Clarey, who was once Lark’s boyfriend and is now Nix’s love. She learns that Lark betrayed her, even as she revels in exploring her creativity as she remakes the faerie world according to her artistic vision. Things are complicated. The rivalry between Goblin King Perish and Scourge, his wicked brother, adds an active plotline to the largely emotional, often-internal happenings. Overwrought similes, word choices that sometimes obscure meaning, and largely indistinguishable character voices do nothing to elevate this lavishly described but thinly plotted tale. Readers who persevered through the first volume will appreciate the neatly resolved conclusion that hurdles seemingly insurmountable odds thanks to love and magic. Of the human characters, Lark and Nix are cued white, while Clarey presents Black.

Sadly, there’s little magic here.