Night of Demons and Saints

Van Praag returns to the fairy tale–inspired world of The Sisters Grimm with an unevenly paced sequel that picks up three years after the events of the first book. After defeating their demonic father, half sisters Liyana, Scarlet, and Goldie lead mundane new lives: Liyana works to keep her ailing aunt alive, Scarlet deals with a relationship crisis, and Goldie grieves the death of her love, Leo. Then their fourth sister, Bea, now living as a raven, talks Goldie into a dangerous plan to resurrect Leo on Goldie’s birthday, when her magic is at her strongest. When Liyana learns of this plot, she knows she and Scarlet won’t be able to stop Goldie and Bea—so instead they offer to help, hoping to mitigate the risk. But the attempted resurrection comes at a hefty price that none anticipate. Magic and mystery make this rich fantasy world come alive, but unfortunately the plot is not as skillfully crafted as its setting. The conflict is disappointingly easy for the sisters to dispel, and, despite the low stakes, the story often feels rushed. Still, the complex sibling dynamic keeps the pages turning. For series fans, just reconnecting with these magical characters may be enough. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown. (Oct.)