SOMETHING CLOSE TO MAGIC

A gently magical tale about the powers of friendship and embracing one’s identity.

Forced to leave school and her magical education three years prior, 17-year-old Aurelie has forsaken her magic and works as an unpaid baker’s apprentice. Her seeking abilities are of little value in a world where people believe magic comes at a steep cost. But when finder Iliana enters the bakery with a set of seeking stones and a tempting financial offer to split a bounty, Aurelie cannot refuse. Thus begins a quest to find Elias Allred, the youngest son of the the prince's steward, that takes them into the enchanted Underwood and throughout the kingdom, accompanied by Quad, an Uncommonfolk troll, and Prince Hapless, whom they rescue from an ambush. The quartet must rekindle their relationships with magic and use their ingenuity if they hope to defeat their foe. Teens who relish light, character-driven stories will enjoy this fantasy with a setting that evokes medieval European ways of life and social structures. The dialogue is filled with dry repartee that is also highlighted in a particularly well-crafted epistolary interlude showcasing the growing feelings, despite their social class differences, between Aurelie and the prince. The theme of making one's own family runs throughout, supporting Aurelie as she learns to trust in herself and others. Characters are cued White; there is some diversity in sexual orientation among supporting characters.

This appealingly breezy novel will whet readers’ appetites for magic and adventure.