Publishers Weekly
07/31/2023
On his birthday—the same day as All Hallows’ Eve—Black British 12-year-old Rayleigh Mann can’t wait to join his troublemaking classmates for annual trickery. After sneaking past his snoozing grandmother, who is from Jamaica, Rayleigh searches for his friends. But he can’t find them, and with London’s mandatory “Lights Out to Help Out” curfew swiftly approaching, he makes his way back to his family’s fancy high-rise apartment, only to be intercepted by a girl named Marley. She introduces him to Thelonius, a creature called a jumbie seemingly straight out of his Nana’s Caribbean monster stories. Thelonius claims to be Rayleigh’s uncle and informs the tween that he’s a monsterling, and son of the infamous Bogey Mann—a legendary “Supreme Scarer”—who’s gone missing. After agreeing to help search for his father, Rayleigh journeys to Below-London with Marley and Thelonius. On top of his quest, he must pass a series of trials, be accepted by the leader of the underworld, and settle a power struggle. In this action-packed fantasy adventure, Smart (Witches Steeped in Gold) combines organic-feeling descriptions of eerie London streets with Caribbean folklore to craft a world teeming with ghoulish scares and creepy creatures of the night. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"A dangerously good time, readers will unlock new fears and new fun with Rayleigh Mann!" — Kwame Mbalia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
“Readers, prepare to want to stay in the company of Rayleigh Mann forever. This enchanting world will grab hold and never let go. You’ll never think of monsters the same way again. Triumphant!” — Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Marvellers
“The diversity of monsters from various cultures present in the story is refreshing… Fantastic, frightful fun.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Witches Steeped in Gold: "Aglow with detail, Witches Steeped in Gold is a thundering waterfall of magic, vengeance and intrigue. Smart spirits the reader straight to the heart of a vivid and perilous world, where power rests in the hands of women and fate turns on the bonds they break and forge." — Samantha Shannon, New York Times & Sunday Times bestselling author of THE BONE SEASON & THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE
“A bloody and deadly delight, Witches Steeped In Gold puts power into the hands of Black girls — the true, beating heart of magic!” — Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles series
“This delightfully delicious tale of witches and magical intrigue will have you reading late into the night.” — Rena Barron, author of Kingdom of Souls
“A richly realized tale.” — Kirkus Reviews
“In this action-packed fantasy adventure, Smart (Witches Steeped in Gold) combines organic-feeling descriptions of eerie London streets with Caribbean folklore to craft a world teeming with ghoulish scares and creepy creatures of the night.” — Publishers Weekly
"Smart welcomes every kid who feels a touch monstrous to an underground world where monsters of all types live. What are you ghouls waiting for? Embrace the monster within." — Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
2023-07-13
A 12-year-old boy discovers that he belongs to a world of monsters.
Rayleigh Mann, a Black British boy, has always been a bit of a troublemaker. It’s All Hallows’ Eve, and he’s excited to meet his friends for tricking—and the occasional treat—even if it means sneaking out of Brutely Estate, the London high-rise where he lives with Mama and Nana, who is from Jamaica. But Rayleigh can’t find his friends, and the government-imposed curfew to save energy (“Lights Out to Help Out”) in a world affected by climate change is rapidly approaching. Instead of trick-or-treating, Rayleigh is captured by a brown-skinned northern girl called Marley and meets his Uncle Thelonious, a jumbie. Rayleigh learns that he’s a monsterling; his missing dad is the Bogey Mann, “Supreme Scarer for the entire Confederation of Lightless Places”; and now he has the opportunity to pass trials in Below-London that will allow him to become a citizen of a world where monsters scare kids into behaving properly and produce Volence, a renewable energy source harvested from “rehabilitated children.” Rayleigh must race against time to complete the trials and rescue his father before evil triumphs over good. Rayleigh rises to the occasion and stands out due to his great courage and curiosity. The diversity of monsters from various cultures present in the story is refreshing. Readers will be left on the edges of their seats, waiting for the next series installment that may fully unravel the mystery behind his dad’s disappearance.
Fantastic, frightful fun. (Fantasy. 8-12)
