Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril.

Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Jude-broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness-has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships.īlack is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy. Bri’s story showcases how love can help give one the strength and courage needed to confront fears and weather uncomfortable truths. Bayron highlights themes of sisterhood, familial bonds, and intergenerational trauma in this novel centering Black characters. Readers who were hooked after reading the previous book with its cliffhanger ending will be pleased to follow more of Bri’s story. But saving her mom is paramount, and Bri is willing to do anything and face anyone in order to do so.

This revelation marks just the beginning of the discoveries and twists that Bri has to deal with: The history of her biological family and their connections to mythological gods go deeper than she realized, and the adversaries she has to face are even more dangerous than everything she’s experienced thus far. Bri finds out that Circe (the biological aunt whose existence she only recently learned of following her supposed death) is actually alive and has been searching for the pieces of the Heart as well. Sixteen-year-old Briseis Greene’s story continues as she is tasked with reuniting all the pieces of the Absyrtus Heart in order to save Thandie, one of her adoptive moms, who is being held by Hecate in the underworld. Briseis goes on an even riskier journey with more menacing enemies in the sequel to This Poison Heart (2021).

This wicked fate kalynn bayron