BEETLE & THE CHIMERA CARNIVAL

Beetle and Kat return in another gloriously imaginative adventure.

In this follow-up to Beetle & the Hollowbones (2020), green-skinned goblin Beetle and necromanced skeleton Kat anticipate Carnival Night, when the Great Dragons will arrive with the lighting of a magical beacon. When the dragons fail to show, Kat and Beetle seek help from another dragon, physician Evelyn Drake, and her vampire companion, Dr. Delia Darlingtonia. Involved in planning aspects of the carnival, Kat’s overbearing parents pit her against another magician in a winner-takes-all competition that could see Kat lose her own abilities. Kat grapples with balancing her family’s crushing expectations and her authentic self. Beetle has her own troubles: She feels herself changing into something unrecognizable as her goblin magic grows, leading her to great lengths to repress it. As their relationship deepens, Kat and Beetle struggle with their own comings-out and redefining their move from friendship to something more. Avoiding any second-book slump, Layne’s phenomenal sequel mixes fantasy, social themes, and an inclusive and unforgettable cast with a gentle, swoonworthy romance. The worldbuilding and magic systems are complex but accessible, brought to life with stunningly rendered, vibrant illustrations. The book opens with a brief recap for those unfamiliar with its predecessor. This volume makes a fine jumping-in point, but readers would be remiss to lose out on a single minute in this world.

A wonderful, whimsical winner.