Unbound

November 20, 2023
Healy debuts with a swashbuckling if somewhat overloaded adventure inspired by Irish mythology. Princess Rozlyn comes of age while locked in a tower because, she is told, her magic attracts a beast that ravages the countryside. She cannot leave until she finds a man to marry her and break the curse. After rebuffing all other suitors, she agrees to marry strapping Jamie—only for him to turn around and try to kill her. Ten years later, Rozlyn is a powerful queen with a much better grip on her magic when Jamie returns to the castle, pleading with her to go north with him and awaken the old gods to stop the spread of evil beasts and spirits through the world. Toggling between timelines, Healy reveals the extent of Rozlyn’s powers, the nature of the beast they supposedly summon, Jamie’s true intentions, and the history of the old gods, who have been asleep for centuries. The worldbuilding is fun and the tense, charged relationship between Jamie and Rozlyn keeps the pages turning, though Rozlyn’s intransigence starts to feel forced as the pair journey north. Still, Healy should win some fans with this one. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

December 1, 2023

DEBUT Rozlyn's earliest memories are riddled with the horror wrought by the Beast of Connacht. Her people are at its mercy--and only she can end the violence. If she marries for love, the curse of the Beast will end. But as the line of suitors grows at her doorstep, so does Rozlyn's power, a magic so intoxicating that she cannot imagine life without it. When Jamie arrives with talents of his own, Rozlyn finds herself grappling with unexpected feelings. But will love be enough to forgive him once secrets older than time begin to unfurl? Steeped in Irish folklore and mythology, Healy's tale grabs readers by the hand, guiding them on a journey filled with delicious, gut-wrenching twists and turns. This character-driven story unfolds by dancing between the past and present, allowing deep secrets and ironies to reveal themselves in surprising ways. VERDICT Healy's debut is an excellent read for anyone who has an appetite for fairy tales, folklore, monsters, and stories with women protagonists who stand firmly rooted in their own strength.--Amira Walker

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2023
A powerful young queen learns to control the magic she wields and embraces her true nature in a world full of ancient gods, terrifying monsters, and treacherous men. Rozlyn � Conch�ir is a monster. Cursed by a vengeful witch on the night she was born, she spends most of her youth locked away from the world, feared by those she loves and despised for reasons she can't comprehend. With only books to keep her occupied, Rozlyn waits for the Beast of Connacht--the winged monster that terrorizes her father's kingdom--to be defeated so she can finally leave her tower and live the life she dreams of. As the years pass, Rozlyn becomes increasingly cold and malicious, fueled by loneliness and heartache. It's only when she meets Jamie, one of the handsome and charming suitors chosen by her father to try to bring the curse to an end, that things begin to change. But as Jamie's motivations come to light, and the pull of magic beneath her skin grows stronger, Rozlyn learns that sometimes the only person you can truly trust is yourself. While it's easy to compare this book to "Beauty and the Beast"--the similarities become increasingly obvious as Rozlyn takes on her monstrous form--other influences are in play, too. The Thousand and One Nights is present in Jamie's attempts to woo Rozlyn by recounting stories of love and war each time he visits her. The tales that Jamie weaves are peppered with Irish mythology, and a pantheon of ancient gods and unsettling fairy folk make appearances. Healy has also clearly taken inspiration from Grendel's mother, and even goes so far as to have Rozlyn reading Beowulf. The resulting tale, told in chapters alternating between Rozlyn's and Jamie's points of view, is a delightful amalgamation that readers will find familiar but that stands on its own as a delightful, heart-clenching story of love and betrayal. An impressive feat of worldbuilding full of unexpected twists for fans of monstrous women.

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