The Revelry

Every year in the small town of Ember Grove, high school seniors attend a party in the woods known as the Revelry. What transpires there is a closely guarded secret: “There are no photos, no official guest list, no proof of anything that happens.” This year, 16-year-old best friends Bitsy and Amy sneak their way in, despite being two years out from their own invitations, and when they wake up the next day, they bear matching scars in place of their friendship rings and only the faintest memories of the previous night. Bitsy quickly suspects something went dangerously wrong, especially when she finds that every time something good happens to Amy, Bitsy’s scar burns and she experiences bad luck. The girls’ friendship grows strained, so when Bitsy meets silver-haired newcomer Skyler, who seems privy to the Revelry’s secrets, she endeavors to figure out what happened that night. Leisurely pacing winds down to a rushed resolution, halting narrative impact. Still, Webber (Twin Crowns) weaves sinister ambiance by keeping the Revelry ambiguous and Ember Grove’s surroundings liminal, all the better to craft this tense tale of betrayal, codependency, friendship, and longing. Major characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Wilson, RCW Literary. (Aug.)