The Girl Who Never Was

Dorset's debut follows 17-year-old Selkie Stewart as her life is turned upside down by the revelation that her mother is an evil faerie. A complex group of prophecies predicts that Selkie will bring down the rule of the powerful Seelie court, where the elite forget anything unpleasant while using the power of faerie names to destroy the weak. Dorset is at her best constructing a beautiful and ruthless world where "ugliness is ferreted out and destroyed." Selkie's potential makes her a target for the Seelies, but when her lifelong protector, Ben, is captured, she is honor-bound to infiltrate the court to rescue him, facing down the mother she's never met. Dorset's story doesn't quite set itself apart in the urban fantasy genre%E2%80%94the plot, in which a faerie who has grown up believing herself human involves herself in a plot against the Seelie Court, closely echoes that of Holly Black's groundbreaking Tithe. But Ben and Selkie's riveting adventures and touching mutual loyalty, along with a strong cast and central romance, keep this series opener engaging. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger Inc. (June)