Where Shadows Bloom

For years, Ofelia de Bouchilion, 17, has dreamed of the opulent, gods-blessed palace Le Château Enchanté, the only refuge against deadly Shadows that plague the land. She soon persuades her mother to petition the king for admittance, but when she never returns, Ofelia sets out to find her. Accompanying Ofelia is 17-year-old Caballera Lope de la Rosa, her best friend and sworn protector. Together they discover that the rumors of Le Château’s fabled beauty and decadence are true—within its walls, Shadows are a forbidden topic, and its noble residents distract themselves from the horrors throughout the land with balls and parties. While the girls slowly explore the complexities of their long-hidden love for each other, they also uncover Le Château’s deepest mysteries. And as Ofelia seeks her missing mother, she attracts the attention of the king, whose eternal youth hides even darker secrets. In this serene tale of love and longing, Bakewell (Flowerheart) conjures a beguiling setting filled with danger and desire. Though the backdrop bears resemblance to 17th-century Spain, and plotting draws loosely from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the result is uniquely magical, romantic, and poetic. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jordan Hamessley, JABberwocky Literary. (Feb.)