Literary Scene: Three New Young Adult Novels

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | December 2021

Vespertine
(Margaret K. McElderry Books, October 2021)
by Margaret Rogerson

Margaret Rogerson’s third novel, Vespertine, is the first half of a duology. The black and gray cover is what first appealed to me—so Halloweeny!—but the story has fine worldbuilding and a fast-paced adventure that will please young adults and adult readers. Here’s the story: Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister. Yeah, it sounds a bit like Harry Potter here since we have a poor young kid who trains in magic. But that comparison disappears fast. Gray Sisters, after all, are nuns who cleanse the bodies of the deceased so their souls can pass on. If the dead aren’t handled properly, they come back as angry spirits who are eager to wreak havoc upon the living. Spirits can also be bound into objects to harness their power, but anyone who tries to use those relics risks being possessed if they’re not strong enough.

Things go bonkers when an army of possessed soldiers march on the convent. Her only option to stop these unnatural enemies from destroying the only home she ever had is to use the magic of a saint’s relic that allows a spirit to share her body. And the banter between her and that spirit is fantastic, as is what follows in terms of the plot, which has plenty of secrets, dark magic, and betrayals. 

Wondering about the title (as I did)? In this world, a vespertine is a priestess trained to wield a relic.

Clearly, religion and ecclesiastical elements are central to this story—it’s hard not to read old-world Catholicism here with more than a dash of Joan of Arc. In short, if readers want to skip the expected YA romance (none in these pages!) and instead enjoy a monster-filled coming-of-age story about some girls who kick butt, this might be the book.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5
www.margaretrogerson.com

Vial of Tears
(Holiday House, October 2021)
by Cristin Bishara

Cristin Bishara’s second book, a YA novel entitled Vial of Tears, is being marketed as a “lush and dangerous Phoenician mythology-inspired fantasy.” In this story, a teen main character, Samira (Sam) lives in a busted-up trailer in Michigan with her sister Rami and their less-than-ideal mom. She’s the only adult they’ve got since Dad’s deceased, but Mom vanishes for days at a time. When they inherit Lebanese antiquities from their great-grandfather, Sam wants to pawn it all because someone’s got to do something about their poverty. And maybe a clay jug with some really old-looking coins can earn them some much-needed cash.

Yet one of the artifacts is a cursed burial coin of a forgotten god, and when it’s touched, the incredibly cold coin magically transports both sisters into the underworld where they’re caught between the struggles of two manipulative gods. And there’s a prophecy, of course, which they may or may not be a part of.

Ghouls, shapeshifters, and the original owner of that coin (a half-god) stand in the way of the girls getting what they want—escaping this dangerous land and returning home. All things considered, this book moves along nicely and the ending delivers, too, which is surprising in that so many fantasy novel endings underwhelm. 

The Author’s Note gives me confidence that this was well-researched in terms of the mythology, which is always a plus. And the fact that the author shares this heritage herself as well as offers family stories and photos that inspired her (plus recipes, too)? Yes, please.

This historical fantasy YA is absolutely solid and fresh enough to please even the most jaded of YA fantasy fans. Well done.

Ryan’s Rating: 4 out of 5
www.cristinbishara.com

Jade Fire Gold
(HarperTeen, October 2021)
by June C.L. Tan

Whoever first said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” clearly doesn’t appreciate how I operate, because yet again, I literally picked this book up and expected great things BECAUSE of its striking cover. And I wasn’t disappointed. June C.L. Tan’s Jade Fire Gold is a debut YA book that’s inspired by Chinese mythology (it’s a Xianxia book) and features a slow-burn m/f romance. 

Ahn is a teen peasant girl who’d do anything to keep her grandmother safe—luckily, Ahn has extraordinary magic. And there’s Altan, the lost heir to the throne, and this guy is out for revenge. Plus, there’s an empire on the brink of war. A pretty good start to things, right?

The first part of the book is terrific. Ahn and Altan are such strong characters with clear motivation. Altan views Ahn as a pathway to reclaiming his rightful place on the throne. Ahn sees him as a way to finally uncover her own mysterious past and understand her magical powers (which matters since the world doesn’t look too kindly on those with magic). 

Did I mention that the worldbuilding is handled well from the start? Very few info-dumps, and the worldbuilding never got in the way of the action. I’ve seen ownvoices reviewers comment positively on the authenticity and quality of the setting, characters, and culture, and to my eye, it comes across quite well, too, But a few plot points feel a bit coincidental, and the promise of the book’s fairly original first third slides into a far more comfortable familiar mode from them on.

Ultimately, the ending isn’t quite as strong as the rest of the book—too many handwaves and jump cuts, but that’s not uncommon in debut books. Sometimes writers just forget that readers find the details before, during, and after the climax to be delicious. And Tan is clearly a good writer who is capable of giving us luscious details, as we see at the story’s start. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for her next book.

Ryan’s Rating: 3.75 out of 5
www.junecltan.com