In the Shadow of the Throne

In this portal fantasy, Filipino American Jordan Rivera is sick of playing babysitter for his two younger brothers while on vacation with his family in New York. Looking for a moment of respite, Jordan cashes in on a bathroom break to wander the museum he and his family are visiting, ducking into a fantasy exhibit that literally morphs from quiet halls decked out in Renaissance-inspired paintings featuring elven royals to an eerie forest with no cell service. After saving taciturn Prince Astel, he and his knight, Sir Griffith, bring Jordan back to their kingdom of Lymeria. There, Jordan becomes embroiled in Lymeria’s dangerous politics and grows closer to Astel, even as he searches for a way back to the real world. Sheridan employs inventive if underdeveloped worldbuilding, breakneck pacing, and classic tropes such as Jordan’s fish-out-of-water deep dive into Lymeira’s world and his and Astel’s will-they-won’t-they relationship. Cardinali’s (Disney Mulan’s Adventure Journal: The Palace of Secrets) vibrant color palettes, bombastic depictions of magic, and clean and crisp lines elevate Sheridan’s breezy summer debut. Characters with varying skin tones populate Lymeria. (July)