Stranger Skies

Gr 9 Up–A YA version of The Magicians for fans of Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning, this sequel resists all the typical middle book pitfalls. After the perilous events of Curious Tides, Emory and Romie reunite in the world of their favorite book, Song of the Drowned Gods, and must follow the song into the Wytchwood to find the next door. Baz is at Aldryn College, where gathered allies try a ritual to cross worlds to Emory and Romie—only for some of them to end up thrown 200 years in the past instead. Antagonist and author of Song of the Downed Gods Cornus Clover has his own plans for the group as Emory and friends struggle to stay a step ahead. Separated across worlds, parallel plots and their striking twists are balanced by Lacelle, ensuring that nearly every detail will be significant later on. Despite the wide cast of characters and new faces, unique characteristics ensure no one gets lost in the narrative and everyone’s arc is carefully curated. Emory made questionable decisions in Curious Tides that provide emotional resonance for her character arc and introduce a number of central themes like the cost of fear and pride. A cliffhanger will have readers desperate for the last book. Main characters are white with some diversity in gender and orientation in the cast.