A glittering 1920s retelling of The Tempest in which forbidden magic and family secrets are revealed over the course of one dramatic night.
BRIGHT RUINED THINGS
by Samantha Cohoe
Wednesday Books, February 2022
(via JABberwocky)
Forbidden magic, a family secret, and a night to reveal it all… The only life Mae has ever known is on the island, living on the charity of the wealthy Prosper family who control the island’s magic and its spirits. Mae longs for magic of her own and to have a place among the Prosper family, where her best friend, Coco, will see her as an equal, and her crush, Miles, will finally see her. But tonight is First Night, when the Prospers and their high-society friends celebrate the night Lord Prosper first harnessed the island’s magic and started producing aether – a magical fuel source that has revolutionized the world. With everyone returning to the island, Mae finally has the chance to go after what she’s always wanted. When the spirits start inexplicably dying, Mae realizes that things aren’t what they seem. And Ivo, the reclusive, mysterious heir to the Prosper magic, may hold all the answers – including a secret about Mae’s past. As Mae and her friends unravel the mysteries of the island, and the Prospers’ magic, Mae starts to question the truth of what her world was built on.
In this YA fantasy, Samantha Cohoe wonderfully mixes magic and an atmospheric setting into a fantastically immersive world, with characters you won’t be able to forget.
• A Goodreads “Most Anticipated” 2022 novel
• Highlighted by BuzzFeed as a new release
• Part of BookRiot’s “Ultimate Guide to New Winter YA Books 2022”
• Part of PopSugar’s “Best New YA Books 2022 So Far”
« A novel whose sumptuous setting alongside the careless, magical rich proffers undeniable pleasures. » ―Publishers Weekly
« Cohoe’s prose moves at a clip through a night packed with intrigue…Fans of Shakespeare’s The Tempest will find much to enjoy, as will readers eager for a luxurious 1920s period piece…An intriguing story about the rot that lies beneath splendor. » ―Kirkus Reviews
Samantha Cohoe writes historically-inspired young adult fantasy. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, California, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of beach trips, omnivorous reading, and writing stories brimming with adverbs. She currently lives in Denver with her family and divides her time among teaching Latin, mothering, writing, reading, and deleting adverbs. Her debut novel A Golden Fury was published in October 2020.
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