October 12, 2020
Loss and desire shine through Hall’s tender YA debut, in which Greek myth infuses a small Australian town. Arielle Wyndham is haunted by survivor’s guilt following the disappearance of her best friend, Alex, in the sea off rural Stonehaven seven years earlier. During a family crisis, a snake bites Ari, and Alex—now an unwilling psychopomp—breaks the underworld’s laws to save her friend’s life. But their joyous reunion—and growing attraction—are cut short. Alex’s meddling has opened a portal to the underworld, unleashing strange beasts and eerie occurrences into the Stonehaven community. In order to save Alex and her town, Ari must defy a great lord of the underworld. Hall’s unadorned, graceful prose suffuses first love, otherworldly threats, and mundane chores with the same irresistible sincerity, and may appeal in tone to fans of Megan Shepherd’s The Secret Horses of Briar Hill and Lois Metzger’s Change Places with Me. The plot includes a few uneven scene changes, and seasoned YA readers may find the trajectory predictable. Still, Ari’s journey is clear, heartrending, and shot through with sweetness and eerie beauty. Ages 12–up.
September 1, 2020
Afterlife mythology meets romantic fantasy in this Australian debut. Seven years after a tragic accident, grief-stricken Ari continues to blame herself for the loss of her best friend. If she hadn't dared Alex to swim across the channel, Alex would still be alive. Although Alex's body was never found, she's presumed dead. Only child Ari longs for a sibling and is overjoyed when her mother and stepfather announce they will be having a baby. When her mother goes into preterm labor, a distressed Ari runs outside barefoot, receiving a venomous snake bite. A beautiful stranger brings her back from the edge of death--but this is no stranger: It's Alex. Alex went to the underworld after her death, where she was raised to be a Summoner, one who leads the newly dead to their final resting place. In saving Ari's life, Alex breaks Summoner law, knocking nature off balance and unleashing terrible events on their sleepy coastal town. Ari, who still seeks redemption for Alex's death, will have to travel through the unlit realm to face the evil Lord Acheron to make things right. The book's greatest strength is its sense of place; the pine plantation and terrifying sinkholes come vividly to life. The third-person narration places distance between readers and Ari, and she does not stand out as a memorable character. Queer Ari is wrestling with her sexuality and attraction to Alex. Most characters are White. An atmospheric read. (Fantasy. 12-16)
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November 1, 2020
Gr 9 Up-It has been seven years since Ari Wyndham's best friend, Alex, went missing at sea. Filled with remorse over the disappearance, Ari tries to move on, but she knows a piece of her is missing. After being bitten by a venomous tiger snake, Ari slips into an unknown realm and encounters the river Styx. A figure by the name of the Summoner approaches to take Ari to the afterlife, and Ari eventually realizes that the Summoner is actually Alex. Going against the laws of the underworld, Alex escapes with Ari back to Earth. What should be a wonderful reunion for the two friends soon turns ominous. Ari is filled with terror when evil, unexplainable occurrences plague her town of Stonehaven and Alex starts behaving strangely. Afraid of losing Alex again, Ari will do whatever she can to protect the love of her life, all while saving her town from underworld demons. Hall's debut will interest fans of magical realism and sapphic romances alike. Hall creates a marvelous LGBTQ love story in an eerie fantasy setting. The author intertwines nods to folklore and Greek mythology with relatable real-life issues, such as divorce, depression, and anxiety. Ari is described as white, and Alex has darker skin and black hair. VERDICT This coming-of-age story will leave readers empathizing with Ari as she transitions into adulthood and learns to be brave in the face of danger.-Beronica Puhr, Oak Park P.L., IL
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