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Young Adult Fiction Contemporary

A Grim and Sunken Vow

by (author) Ashley Shuttleworth

Publisher
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Initial publish date
Nov 2024
Category
Contemporary, LGBT, Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age
14 to 18
Recommended Grade
9 to 12
Recommended Reading age
14 to 18
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781797167312
    Publish Date
    Nov 2023
    List Price
    $46.99
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781665918770
    Publish Date
    Nov 2023
    List Price
    $25.99
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781665918794
    Publish Date
    Nov 2023
    List Price
    $10.99 USD
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781665918787
    Publish Date
    Nov 2024
    List Price
    $18.99

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Description

Arlo and her friends must decide how far they’re willing to go to depose a cruel ruler in this third book in the Hollow Star Saga that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones and “offers vicious and thrilling intrigue” (Kirkus Reviews).

The die is cast.
The era of Spring is over.

Riadne’s bloody coup on the Summer Solstice changed Arlo’s life forever. In one fell swoop and a fool’s bargain, she lost both her family and free will to the newly crowned High Queen. Now, with Arlo forced to use her powers as Luck’s Hollow Star to help summon the rest of the seven deadly sins, Riadne stands closer than ever to achieving her dark goals.

And Arlo isn’t the only one trapped in a frightening new role. Her ex-Fury girlfriend, Nausicaä, is determined to do whatever it takes to stay by Arlo’s side, even if that means becoming Riadne’s pet assassin. Aurelian and Vehan, torn apart, struggle to survive on their own.

Meanwhile, Celadon has been revealed as Riadne’s illegitimate son—and heir to both Spring and Summer, the ultimate offense in the faerie world. But the High Prince has secret plans of his own, plans made all the more complicated when the beautiful and deadly immortal Hunter Lethe takes an interest in him…

Five budding legacies will need more than luck if they hope to stand a chance against the greatest adversary the Courts have faced. For nothing’s more dangerous than a faerie tale… except the one who tells it, and maybe what they’re going to need is no longer that story’s hero but its villain.

About the author

Ashley Shuttleworth escribe libros juveniles de fantasía. Se graduó en Literatura Inglesa y tiene una pequeña obsesión con The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts y Final Fantasy. Actualmente vive en Ontario, Canadá, con su gato Zack y con una colección de espadas para cosplay que está en constante crecimiento.

 

Ashley Shuttleworth is a young adult fantasy author with a degree in English literature and a slight obsession with The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy. They currently live in Ontario, Canada, with their cat named Zack and a growing collection of cosplay swords. You can find them online at AshleyShuttleworth.com.

Ashley Shuttleworth's profile page

Excerpt: A Grim and Sunken Vow (by (author) Ashley Shuttleworth)

Editorial Reviews

"Tongue-in-cheek pop-culture references and snarky humor balance well with dark but sensitive portrayals of emotional trauma caused by abusive or negligent adults.... This first in a planned duology should be a hit."

Booklist Online Exclusive on A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR

“A dazzling sequel with enough tantalizing court intrigue, reveals, and secrets to keep you on the edge of your seat. Shuttleworth expertly expands the beautiful and cruel world of the fae with rich world-building and intricate character work in this must-read follow up to A Dark and Hollow Star.”

Liselle Sambury, author of BLOOD LIKE MAGIC and BLOOD LIKE FATE, on A CRUEL AND FATED LIGHT

"A ferocious fantasy."

Kirkus Reviews on A CRUEL AND FATED LIGHT

"Beautifully written and deliciously complex, A Dark and Hollow Star is utterly engrossing. The magic is bloody, the humor sharp, and the murder mystery drenched in violence and intrigue. Like a fallen Fury set on vengeance, I couldn’t get enough."

Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers Trilogy, on A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR

“A gripping flight into fantasy... The plot offers high stakes, simmering romantic tension, political drama, refreshingly casual representation of queer and transgender characters, and an intriguing magic system that draws inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons.”

Kirkus on A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR

“First in a planned duology, Shuttleworth’s queer urban fantasy debut combines figures from Greek myth and European folklore with elements of tabletop RPGs.... Shuttleworth sensitively tackles the plot’s darker elements, including trauma and suicidal ideation, tempering them with tenderness and wry wit. A kaleidoscopic narrative adds depth and drive.”

Publishers Weekly on A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR

"Characters are vivid, with motivating, sometimes mysterious, backstories. The high stakes of the plot are balanced with humor, particularly from the irreverent and snarky Nausicaä.... Many young adults will love this novel’s stellar queer representation, as well as the oft-repeated refrain that the adults should be the ones handling this mess. VERDICT: A promising opener to an urban faerie fantasy series featuring multiple queer identities."

School Library Journal on A DARK AND HOLLOW STAR

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