OUR DIVINE MISCHIEF

For the islanders of Fuiscea, everything is determined by the will of the gods.

Áila LacInis, a fisherman’s daughter with tanned skin, green eyes, and dark, curly hair, awaits the moment when the goddess Yslet will tell her what her vocation will be. Only the Unblessed, the most unfortunate people on Fuiscea, are deprived by Yslet of any special aptitude. Among them is Hew LacEllan, a lanky, auburn-haired laborer with an unwavering faith in the gods despite the abuse he faces at the hands of his fellow islanders. To Áila’s shock, Yslet fails to appear at her Goddess Trial; Áila instead is faced with Orail, a strange doglike creature who possesses the power to grant wishes. The goddess’s absence means Áila must complete a series of intensive Ordeals intended to test the gods’ favor. In the process, Hew, Áila, and Orail become bound together as three outcasts fighting the limits of tradition. Unfolding through their three alternating viewpoints (Orail’s sections are in verse), the story’s rich narration is sure to enchant fantasy lovers. While the first half of the novel seems disconnected from the conclusion due to an unexpected redirection of the twist-filled plot, themes of identity and belief are carried throughout a text that’s layered with references to Scottish lore.

An absorbing exploration of truest friendship and the fulfillment that comes from knowing one’s worth.