This Wicked Fate

by Kalynn Bayron

Overview

An instant New York Times bestseller!

Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate to save the ones you love?

Briseis has one chance to save her mother, but she’ll need to do the impossible: find the last fragment of the deadly Absyrtus Heart. To locate the missing piece, she must turn to the blood relatives she’s never known, learn about their secret powers, and take her place in their ancient lineage.

But Briseis is not the only one who wants the Heart, and her enemies will stop at nothing to fulfill their own ruthless plans. The fates tell of a truly dangerous journey, one that could end in more heartache, more death. Strengthened by the sisterhood of ancient magic, can Briseis harness her power to save the people she loves most?

Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s unique magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547609208
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	06/21/2022
Series:	This Poison Heart
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	101,082
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kalynn Bayron is the author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart, and is a classically trained vocalist. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. When she's not writing you can find her listening to Ella Fitzgerald on loop, attending the theater, watching scary movies, and spending time with her kids. She currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her family.
www.kalynnbayron.com
@KalynnBayron

Editorial Reviews

The book centers Black characters, and its prose sings. . . . This Wicked Fate is a delightful novel about literal Black Girl Magic, found family, and queer love, with adventures and a satisfying twist on Greek mythology.” —Foreword Reviews, starred review

“This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Sharp banter, dynamic characters, and a warm sapphic romance give this even more verve.” —Booklist

"Kalynn Bayron's writing is alchemy itself, blending contemporary fantasy with a dose of haunting mystery and a dropper of gothic fiction. An intoxicating tale about the power of about Black motherhood and daughterhood, and family bonds that can't be broken. Like the poisonous plants Briseis tends to, This Poison Heart is mesmerizing and beautiful." —Tracy Deonn, New York Times bestselling author of LEGENDBORN, on THIS POISON HEART

“Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale . . . She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after.” —Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD

“Flipping the Cinderella tale on its head, Bayron's take challenges patriarchy with kick-butt heroines and a counter-story that will forever change how readers perceive fairy tales.” —Booklist, starred review, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD

“Readers looking for dystopia, queer romance, LGBTQ inclusiveness, and women sticking it to the patriarchy will be pleased.” —School Library Journal Online, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD

“A queer dystopian fantasy that questions written history and societal expectations.” —Shelf Awareness Pro, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD

“Bayron's deconstructive reimagining of the classic fairy tale is ambitious, replacing the happily-ever-after with a tragic legacy and a defiant, feminist tone.” —Publishers Weekly Online, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD

From the Publisher

11/01/2022

Gr 8 Up—Briseis must find the last piece of the Absyrtus Heart if she wants to have any chance of saving her mother but finding the missing piece will mean facing gods and monsters. Bri's grief is compelling but not overwhelming as she and Marie embark on a globe-spanning quest. Bayron's writing strikes the perfect balance, moving away from The Secret Garden elements of This Poison Heart; the story has found its feet in Greek mythology. The quest and magical creature elements give this story sapphic "Percy Jackson" vibes, while lush writing and attention to detail make the story shine. Main characters are Black. VERDICT Bayron's duology lives up to its potential and is recommended for general purchase.

School Library Journal

2022-04-13
Briseis goes on an even riskier journey with more menacing enemies in the sequel to This Poison Heart (2021).

Sixteen-year-old Briseis Greene’s story continues as she is tasked with reuniting all the pieces of the Absyrtus Heart in order to save Thandie, one of her adoptive moms, who is being held by Hecate in the underworld. Bri finds out that Circe (the biological aunt whose existence she only recently learned of following her supposed death) is actually alive and has been searching for the pieces of the Heart as well. This revelation marks just the beginning of the discoveries and twists that Bri has to deal with: The history of her biological family and their connections to mythological gods go deeper than she realized, and the adversaries she has to face are even more dangerous than everything she’s experienced thus far. But saving her mom is paramount, and Bri is willing to do anything and face anyone in order to do so. Readers who were hooked after reading the previous book with its cliffhanger ending will be pleased to follow more of Bri’s story. Bayron highlights themes of sisterhood, familial bonds, and intergenerational trauma in this novel centering Black characters. Bri’s story showcases how love can help give one the strength and courage needed to confront fears and weather uncomfortable truths.

This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships. (Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews