The snappy voice of
Briar, the teenage fae who also might be a mass murderer, drew me in right
away. Exiled from the realm of Idyll (for reasons that become apparent only
later in the story) to the human world, she finds herself in juvie detention.
Just as her life looks unremittingly grim, she’s unexpected offered a place at
the mysterious private Dedwydd Academy. Here she’s assigned not only group and
individual therapy sessions but classes in Anger Management, Algebra, and The
Psychology of Terror. Her fellow students are not only supernatural folk like witches,
angels, and demons, but also human changelings who have been harmed by the fae.
Gradually she realizes that Dedwydd just might be the third chance she needs, a
place where she can make real friends and learn to control her fae abilities.
Then she finds a stone tucked into her bedding, one highly toxic to her kind.
Who’s trying to murder her – and why?
Even before the
Harry Potter series, “magical school” stories had strong appeal. Promise Me Nothing stands out for its
great characters, strong voice, intelligence, and beautifully interwoven plot
lines. Vogel offers just the right amount of backstory without bashing the
reader of the head. She trusts her readers to make connections, even as Briar
herself figures out the mystery while figuring out herself. It’s all very well done, with smooth prose, a dramatic
mystery, and the kind of coming-of-age emotional journey that makes Young Adult
fantasy satisfying for adult as well as teen readers.
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