THIS DARK PARADISE

A magic-wielding girl tricks her way onto enchanted Estaralla but discovers that the island—and its magic—are more likely to kill her than to save her.

Lucia Arduini must get to the exclusive island of Estaralla and steal its source of magic in order to pay off the gangs to which her family is indebted. With craftiness and the use of insider information from her Estarallan ex-boyfriend, Antony, Lucia makes it onto the island as part of a luxury tour for the wealthy Rubellian family. Even as she lies to everyone about her motives for visiting Estaralla, Lucia firmly believes that finding and stealing its source of magic is her only path to freedom. Once on the island, however, she discovers that the enchanting illusions aren’t the only things that aren’t quite what they seem. Unsure if she can trust intriguing host Calista, moody Oriana Rubellian, or Antony, who claims to still love her despite his multiple betrayals, Lucia must uncover the island’s secret before she becomes another one of its mysterious and violent casualties. The bisexual love triangle offers a fun diversion from the confusing plot’s twists. The Italian-influenced world of the novel is built on excessive, minute detail and sprawling worldbuilding that can be difficult to track. The main characters are diverse in sexual orientation and read Mediterranean.

An appealing queer romance that buckles under the weight of the fantasy world’s intricacies.