The Losting Fountain

Three teens from different time periods discover a mythical island of lost things in this dark fantasy from Senf (the Blight Harbor series). In 1913, 14-year-old Ember is visited by a magical winged girl named Selah, who spirits her to the Losting Fountain, a vast untamed island that’s home to mythical creatures—some deadly—and lost things longing to be found. In 1989, 15-year-old Sam, encouraged by strange voices, runs away from home to the same island. And in the present day, 17-year-old Miles flees to the island with his two winged guides seeking answers about his birth mother. The three timelines converge via waterway, allowing Ember, Sam, and Miles to meet on the island outside of time. But dangerous creatures seek to escape through a rip between the Losting Fountain and the human world. Each teen has a role to play in repairing the border, but their personal connections to the island could jeopardize their mission. The characters’ alternating perspectives sometimes read as overly similar, and thinly connected story lines hamper an interesting premise. Nevertheless, a devious twist, gloriously horrific monsters, and gentle explorations of grief bring this fable to an emotional close. Major characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ali Herring, Spencerhill Assoc. (Dec.)