Publishers Weekly
★ 09/05/2022
This swoonworthy paranormal romance anthology, edited by Caldwell (A Phoenix First Must Burn), features 15 stories from such authors as Hafsha Faizal, Chloe Gong, and Julian Winters, among others. An introspective examination of vengeance, Kendare Blake’s “Undead Ghoul Meet-Cute” follows Maria, a once-human undead creature seeking revenge on the ghoul who turned her. “In the Eyes of Angels” by Alexis Henderson explores religious myth and leaps of faith, centering Tate, recovering from alcohol dependency, who, after getting fired from her job at a gas station, encounters a fallen angel. While most of the stories deliver well-drawn interpretations of dramatic love amid fantastical happenings, some are humorously couched in the everyday; Akshaya Raman’s “If You Give an Asura a Cookie” chronicles Rupa’s coming to terms with her appointment as a protector of the gods, even though all she wants is to stay curled up in her Ms. Marvel blanket. Meanwhile, Adib Khorram’s “Kiss the Boy” features merperson Dylan, who lounges on a beach in human form while yearning for the boy who saved his life. Each story is delicately infused with the creators’ lived experiences, and the protagonists come together in varying pairings, celebrating love across myriad gender and sexual identities. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Eternally Yours
*"[A] swoonworthy paranormal romance anthology . . . While most of the stories deliver well-drawn interpretations of dramatic love amid fantastical happenings, some are humorously couched in the everyday . . . Each story is delicately infused with the creators’ lived experiences, and the protagonists come together in varying pairings, celebrating love across myriad gender and sexual identities."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Fantastical romances are as diverse as their protagonists in this collection of 15 stories by YA favorites . . . Featuring mystical beings galore, this volume is filled to the brim with enchanting fantasy backdrops and romances both straight and queer and is perfect for sampling or reading straight through. The tone ranges from soft and sweet to terrifying and thrilling, ensuring there is something for nearly every reader and mood. Additional contributors like Sandhya Menon, Adib Khorram, Melissa de la Cruz, and Anna-Marie McLemore add to the appeal. A delightful addition to the shelf of any romantic.. "—Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
11/01/2022
Gr 8 Up—Teens who can't get enough of paranormal romances should look no further. This collection of 15 short stories has demons, ghouls, spells, and romances both straight and queer. Authors include mystical beings caught up in fantasy worlds as well as realistic situations of interactions with humans. Featuring contributors like such as Melissa de la Cruz and Sandhya Menon, the collection allows teens to sample favorite authors and discover new ones; they will not be disappointed if they read the book in its entirety. Nia Porter summons the perfect date in "My Demon Prince Charming" by Sandyha Menon. Her perfect date, however, disappears at dawn—can Nia find him again or is their love lost forever? Some entries are sweet and satisfying while others pack a good thrill. Tally Qiu in "A Thousand More" by Chloe Gong is befriended by a new student from Shanghai who claims to be her soulmate from another life. Even though Tally has no recollection of another life, she finds Nate to be irresistible and isn't sure why. Each author has created an intriguing setting to match a paranormal creation worth reading. Characters throughout are of various descent with a variety of skin tones and sexual preference. VERDICT Recommended; perfect for collections looking to add more paranormal or more romance, or both.—Karen Alexander
Kirkus Reviews
2022-07-27
Fantastical romances are as diverse as their protagonists in this collection of 15 stories by YA favorites.
Maria has finally found Ethan, the ghoul who turned her into an undead creature. When the moment comes to take her revenge, she instead finds herself taking his disembodied head on one last walk around the city in “Undead Ghoul Meet-Cute” by Kendare Blake. Tally Qiu, the protagonist of “A Thousand More” by Chloe Gong, is confronted by Nate Zhou, a new student from Shanghai who claims that they are soul mates, destined to find each other in every reincarnation. Despite her lack of past-life memories, she finds herself growing closer to him as they are partnered for a history project. In Julian Winters’ “Who Will Save Me,” guardian angel Micah struggles to choose between his duty to his 13-year-old charge, Eli, and his love for Eli’s older brother, Zion. Meanwhile, Eli has his own struggles with his identity in the wake of his parents’ negative response to Zion’s coming out. Featuring mystical beings galore, this volume is filled to the brim with enchanting fantasy backdrops and romances both straight and queer and is perfect for sampling or reading straight through. The tone ranges from soft and sweet to terrifying and thrilling, ensuring there is something for nearly every reader and mood. Additional contributors like Sandhya Menon, Adib Khorram, Melissa de la Cruz, and Anna-Marie McLemore add to the appeal.
A delightful addition to the shelf of any romantic. (author biographies) (Paranormal romance anthology. 13-18)
