A Sleight of Shadows

Howard’s immersive second Unseen World dark fantasy picks up right where An Unkindness of Magicians left off. The Unseen World is reeling from the events of the Turning, a competition which upended the hierarchy of magical houses and, thanks to the machinations of heroine Sydney, resulted in the complete dissolution of the corrupt House of Shadows. Unfortunately, Sydney’s destruction of Shadows left her powerless—and earned her some powerful enemies. With the balance of magic thrown out of whack, the other Houses start falling apart. Dahlia, head of House Morgan, sets out to save the Unseen World by rebuilding the House of Shadows—no matter who she has to sacrifice to do so. To stop Dahlia, Sydney must ally with new friends and find a way forward without magic of her own. Howard’s worldbuilding is as grim and complex as ever, and it’s easy to root for her resilient heroine in the face of impossible odds. This thrilling outing will keep readers guessing in all the right ways. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writer’s House. (Apr.)