The Buried and the Bound (The Buried and the Bound #1)

In this creature-filled fantasy, a trilogy kickoff, three teens’ lives intertwine as they work to protect their mortal home—and one another—from the deadly machinations of a magical evil. Seventeen-year-old Lebanese American hedge witch Aziza El-Amin patrols Blackthorn, Mass., working to secure the borders between the real world and the fairyland of Elpheme by rescuing wayward shades and combatting aggressive monsters. White Leo Merritt, a 17-year-old cursed to forget his true love, becomes Aziza’s ally in exchange for her help in breaking the curse. Unhoused necromancer Tristan, also white, 17, and only a year into his decade-long servitude to a wicked hag in the woods, fears he won’t make it to the promised magical favor at the end of his bargain. When the trio team up to combat the forest hag’s increasingly malevolent power, they unearth ancient town secrets and mysteries from their own pasts. Hassan (The Prince of Nowhere) employs a rapid pace and plentiful action while still prioritizing the cast’s development into magnetic heroes. Overflowing with whimsy, danger, and a touch of humor, this alluring tale maintains a satisfying air of menace and unpredictability. Ages 14–up. Agent: Erica Bauman, Aevitas Creative Management. (Jan.)