THE SUMMER QUEEN

A coven of three teens ventures into the fairy realm to save a loved one.

In this follow-up to The Buried and the Bound (2023), hedgewitch Aziza, necromancer Tristan, and curse victim Leo have formed their own coven after defeating a hag in their small Massachusetts town. When Hazel, Leo’s changeling sister, is called to Elphame to join the Fair Folk’s Summer Court, the trio strikes a fraught bargain with the Folk to join the Wild Hunt in a bid to win her freedom. As the humans navigate their way among the tricky fae, they soon become entrenched in a deeper conspiracy. While trying to save Hazel, the group members wrestle with their own turmoil: Leo has the curse that’s made him forget his true love, Aziza struggles to reconcile her past and her powers, and Tristan grapples with new summoning abilities and the ache of unrequited feelings. The book shifts in point of view among all three protagonists, creating a fantasy with intricate worldbuilding, deftly crafted multidimensional characters, and a slow-burn romance. Although this is the sophomore volume, it’s a fine jumping-in point for those new to the series, thanks to generous recaps. The breathlessly tantalizing cliffhanger ending is sure to keep readers clamoring for the next installment. Tristan and Leo are white and queer; the previous volume established that Aziza is Lebanese American.

A dark, atmospheric, and complex fantasy that leans into all the feels.