Description
Description
In this spellbinding romantasy, an agender teen stumbles into the fae world and finds love and belonging--but at what cost? Eighteen-year-old Cam bounces between houses in Texas and Scotland and has always thought that's why she doesn't feel at home in either place. A recent Autism diagnosis followed by a fight with her mothers adds an extra layer of real-life stress, only amplifying her struggle to belong. However, things take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with members of the Otherworld deep in a Scottish forest. With the Gaelic wisdom from her Granaidh (Grandma), Cam understands that she has been noticed by the Fair Folk, and that this means that her life is suddenly in grave danger. Cam must make a choice: face the danger or join the Others and never see her family again. With her human ties fraying even further, the allure of the Others' acceptance tugs at Cam's heart, but is she ready to say goodbye to her family forever? From the acclaimed author of The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, this is a lush, lyrical romantasy novel set at the crossroads of belonging and the magical realm of the unknown.
About the Author
About the Author
Maya MacGregor is a writer, singer, and artist. Maya sings and writes in Gàidhlig and in English. You can find their bilingual work on tor.com, in Steall magazine (summer 2020), and Uncanny magazine, with poetry in Poets' Republic and elsewhere. The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, which earned three starred reviews and was a 2022 Kirkus Best Book, was their debut young adult novel.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
★ "Venturing out into the Scottish woods, one wouldn't expect to stumble upon another world, but folklore makes it seem possible... MacGregor represents Gaelic lore well while thoughtfully integrating the nuance of neurodivergence and grief throughout. A welcome, cozy queer romantasy with a uniquely informed twist on the popular fae subgenre."--Booklist, starred review "This atmospheric, otherworldly fantasy by MacGregor (The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will) deploys Scottish mythology to touch on themes of grief and trauma brought about by past experiences with mass shootings and Covid-19... Cam's gentle budding romance with other Sithichean and Ballinacollie locals offers moments of hope and healing across an empathic and accessible tale of belonging."--Publishers Weekly "This engaging fantasy dives into Scottish folklore and tradition, effectively exploring the loss of Gaelic cultural knowledge and the worlds of magic it contains. The inclusion of significant amounts of Gaelic language adds authenticity to the worldbuilding... the characters and the sparkling queer romance at the heart of the story are enchanting. A magical and romantic fantasy steeped in Gaelic culture."--Kirkus Reviews
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Astra Young Readers
Pub date:
2025-10-28
Length:
272 pages

The Allstora Membership
Membership Perks:
- Save 30% on all online store purchases
- Exclusive access to author's content
- You pay less, but authors still earn double
Membership Terms:
First Month:
$0.00
Monthly price:
$5.00
- To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
- One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.

