Beguiled

June 15, 2022
In a Celtic-inspired fantasy land, a young weaver struggling for survival makes a deal with a storied spirit. Seventeen-year-old Ella learned to weave at her father's knee, but since his death in debtors prison, she's braved life in the slums of Eidyn Crag alone. Interactions with Odina, a wealthy client, provide a glimpse of what life could be, and a bargain with the Bean-Nighe, a Scottish folkloric figure, brings the vision tantalizingly closer. Through Odina, Ella meets Callum, a magnetic and mysterious young man who promises her the world--for a price. What ensues is a dark tale that explores themes of poverty and power, vulnerability and exploitation. Ella, and her audience with her, learns the steep price of trust misplaced. The backdrop of mixed Scottish and Irish folkloric elements is muddy in contrast to the clarity and bite of the central themes, the worldbuilding a dilution of the rich traditions it borrows from. In contrast to the fictional Scottish setting, Odina is named as coming from a real Indigenous nation, the Mi'kmaq; Mi'kmaq culture and her experiences as a Native woman in predominantly White Eidyn Crag are not explored. Unusually for a fantasy world, birth control is raised as a concern. Troublingly, however, the efficacy of the calendar method is misleadingly overstated. Ella and Callum are cued as White. Woven of many compelling threads, the final tapestry does not live up to the sum of its parts. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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August 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-In the city of Eidyn Crag, the Players, a group of young and wealthy trendsetters, weave their influence, leaving people like Ella out in the cold. Despite Ella's skill with a loom, she lives hand-to-mouth since her father died in a debtor's prison. Now, her livelihood depends on the whims of her one client, a Player named Odina. When Ella's loom breaks, her dreams of independence splinter, too. Desperate, Ella bargains with the cursed Bean-Nighe: in exchange for some of Ella's blood, the Bean-Nighe repairs the loom, but some magic continues to flow through it, enchanting Ella's fabrics. Realizing what Ella's beguiling cloth can do, Callum, the leader of the Players, offers her his patronage. She latches onto him, greedy for power, influence, and wealth, becoming so immersed in Callum and Odina's world that she doesn't realize she is in danger of losing herself. Initially, Ella's character reads as one-note as she molds herself to fit into the expectations of the Players, and as such, her relationship with the mercurial Callum feels contrived. However, once the board is set, readers are rewarded with a twist that shows the previous events of the book in a new and sinister light. Eventually, Ella comes into her own and discovers her true worth in a very satisfying ending. Drug use, sexuality, and abusive relationships make this a title for older teens. The city of Eidyn Crag is reminiscent of a historic Scotland and most of the characters cue white, except for Odina whose skin is light brown and hair is dark. VERDICT Recommended for secondary collections where fantasy stories are popular.-Leighanne Law

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 This Celtic-inspired fantasy features 17-year-old Ella, a teenage weaver who learned her craft from her late father, who died in prison due to outstanding debts. Ella is only scraping by, so she strikes a dangerous bargain with the Bean-Nighe, who agrees to fix her loom and make all her deepest wishes come true. Her craft restored, Ella can make the cloth she needs to survive, only now her fabrics are imbued with magic. When handsome Callum catches sight of her delicate and powerful work, he promises to pay her richly--but he has an agenda of his own. As the story progresses, the Celtic folklore elements fall more toward the background as themes of poverty, struggle, and the true cost of magic take center stage. Fantasy fans who like intricate plots will be lured in by Panin's beautiful writing, magical world building, and dynamic characters. While those fantasy elements enhance the storytelling, readers might find their heads spinning as they try to tie up all the knots of the plot. Hand to readers hungry for immersive atmosphere.

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