Saint-Seducing Gold is the second book in the YA Forge & Fracture fantasy trilogy by Brittany N. Williams. Released 23rd April 2024 by Abrams on their Abrams Kids imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
Featuring a strong young female protagonist named Joan, it's set in a fictitious Shakespearean London and includes a mash-up of A Midsummer Night's Dream (with real faeries) and swashbuckling political drama and skullduggery.
The author has an impressive facility with characterization, and even the secondary characters are well fleshed out and three dimensional (for good or ill). Joan is an appealing MC, and it's genuinely nice to see some representation for non-traditional stereotype leads. The use of alternating chapters from different characters' points of view isn't always entirely successful, but it works well enough.
Four stars. Generally quite well written and with a number of bonus positive points (swashbuckling fantasy with a female PoC lead and bi-positive representation). It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, or a binge/buddy read or book club selection. The third/concluding book in the trilogy is due out in early second quarter 2025.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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