October 15, 2021
A 16-year-old who predicts death teams up with a vampire to learn more about her powers. When her skin touches another's, Elise Beaumont visualizes and feels the manner of that person's death. This began five months ago when she foresaw her brother's imminent drowning. She desperately wants to be rid of this ability until vampire Claire Montgomery tells her that, as the Death Oracle, Elise can change people's fates. Meanwhile, Claire hates being permanently 17 and a vampire. She agreed to complete one final case as a shepherd for the Veil, so now she's responsible for teaching Elise and getting her to come work for them. Claire hopes that once she succeeds in this task, the leaders of the Veil will help her finally get the revenge she seeks against Rose, who made her what she is. The mission becomes complicated, though, with an unknown killer on the loose in town and Claire developing romantic feelings for Elise. The girls' alternating first-person narratives aren't terribly distinct, but they succeed in expressing their emotions realistically as they grieve, yearn, and grow. Heartfelt friendships with lovable side characters add lightness and charm. The pace is brisk throughout with plenty of thrilling action, even while the romance is a slow burn. Worldbuilding happens naturally, and the paranormal mythos is easy to understand. Elise and Claire are White and queer; side characters are diverse in terms of race, sexuality, and gender identity. Exciting and endearing. (Paranormal. 13-18)
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October 25, 2021
Competitive swimmer Elise Beaumont, 16 and white, has been consumed by grief, guilt, and fear since the mysterious drowning death of her older brother Nick five months ago. She’s also intent on breaking the curse that forces her to have visions of a person’s death when her skin touches theirs. Claire Montgomery, also white, is a perpetually 17-year-old vampire tasked by the paranormal world’s leaders with guiding Elise—a potential savior of that world—into her power as Death Oracle, capable of unraveling paranormal creatures. Claire doesn’t want or expect to care about Elise, especially given that delivering her safely is Claire’s ticket to revenge against the individual who turned her vampire. As people close to Elise begin to be brutally murdered, she feels increased pressure to understand and embrace her abilities—and finds herself drawn romantically to Claire. Sterling’s (These Witches Don’t Burn) world will appeal to readers who appreciate atmospheric and emotional paranormal romance; through alternating dual voices, she offers a gentle, sapphic romance and a nuanced exploration of identity, power, and consent. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary.
December 1, 2021
Gr 9 Up-Since Elise's brother drowned last spring on her 16th birthday, she's experienced the future death of any person she touches. Even passing brushes set off her "curse," forcing her into isolation, made worse by losing her swim team friends and Olympic dreams to her new dread of water. Claire, an immortal vampire forever stuck at age 17, is the shepherd assigned to help Elise accept and use her powers as the Death Oracle and join forces with the Veil, a mysterious organization governing paranormal entities. Claire has a mission of her own, seeking revenge on the vampire who turned her. Elise and Claire's fraught and developing relationship forms the emotional core of this queer paranormal romance as the girls try to stop the supernatural serial killer rampaging through town. While Sterling's plot hits predictable points, the characters' rich backstories and authentic teen voices make this book an enjoyable ride through the genre. Elise and Claire are white, Elise's ex-boyfriend Jordan is Black, and her best friend is Korean American. The book includes lesbian, bisexual, and nonbinary representation. VERDICT This slightly sardonic queer take on paranormal romance is a solid read-alike choice for fans of Kate Williams's The Babysitters Coven, Lily Anderson's Undead Girl Gang, or Sterling's previous work.-Molly Saunders, Manatee County P.L., Bradenton, FL
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 For fans of paranormal and queer romance stories comes a riveting tale from the author of These Witches Don't Burn (2019). Seventeen-year-old Elise Beaumont is cursed to live her teenage life as a Death Oracle, possessing the ability to predict when and how someone will die. When the Veil sends a mandatory mentor her way--Claire Montgomery, a mysterious vampire--Elise, swept up in a whirlwind of emotions, wonders if it is safe to trust, let alone fall for, her. Told in chapters that alternate between Elise's and Claire's perspectives, this follows the trajectory of a slow-burn romance as Elise unravels the strange circumstances surrounding her brother's death and simultaneously tries to figure out if Claire is someone she can have faith in. Drawing on classic teenage angst and self-consciousness and utilizing unexpected twists and turns, Sterling skillfully weaves between the two characters' voices and explores their increasing feelings toward one another, all while crafting a haunting LGBTQ+ paranormal romance that is sure to keep readers emotionally invested.
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