Unseelie

by Ivelisse Housman

The start of a swoony, high-energy duology that Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses, calls “reminiscent of classic fairytales yet brimming with a charm all its own.”

“A world of glimmering fae that sparkles with mystery, adventure, and enchantment.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed with Us

Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde…but as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae as an infant, she has always known she is different. Seelie’s unpredictable magic makes it hard for her to fit in—and draws her and Isolde into the hunt for a fabled treasure. In a heist gone wrong, the sisters make some unexpected allies and find themselves unraveling a mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike.

Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?

“Housman’s stunning debut is the sort of love letter only an autistic author could write. Fae canon has been waiting for this one.” —H.E. Edgmon, author of The Witch King

 

• ISBN10: 1335428593
• ISBN13: 9781335428592
• Publish Date: 2 March 2023 (first published 3 January 2023)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 25 February 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Inkyard Press
• Edition: Original
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Iselia (aka Seelie) and her sister, Isolde, are identical twins. Yet they have a mountain of differences between the two. Isolde doesn't seem to have any trouble navigating the world around her, while Iselia...well...

Let's go back to the beginning. Iselia is an autistic changeling, which adds all sorts of challenges to blending in with human society. If that wasn't enough, she and her sister are about to get caught up in something – a heist gone wrong, which is ever so much more complicated than it appears.

My Review:

I've heard nothing but good things about Unseelie, so I just had to sit down and read it! The rep alone (autistic main character) would have made it worth the read. But throw in magic, heists, and fae? You've got me hooked.

In my opinion, one of the most satisfying parts of this novel (in my opinion) is having a main character who makes decisions that don't make me want to scream! We've all read books where that happens...and sometimes it happens more often than not. So this was a very refreshing change of pace! I adored Seelie and everything she brought to the table.

If you're looking for a YA fantasy read with familiar foundations while providing a dash of something very different, Unseelie is the book for you. This is Ivelisse Housman's debut novel, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she does next.

Highlights:
Neurodiverse (Autistic) Characters
Fae

Trigger Warnings:
Ableism
Child Abuse (mentioned)
Self-harm
Body Horror (mild)

Thanks to Inkyard Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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