This is the second time recently I’ve picked up a book by this author because of my love for her older work and felt it just wasn’t for me, which is disappointing but also kind of my own fault. Fool me once, etc etc etc. I did find it refreshing and interesting to read a fantasy based on different lore than most fae-related stories. I’m not familiar with Filipino myths and legends, but that world-building was by far the best part of this book.

MJ is half human and half encanto (basically a type of fae). Her encanto father is king of their realm, making her heir to the throne, but she and her human mother live in our world, constantly relocating to avoid being chased by magical threats who are after her for reasons. Until one day, immediately at the start of the book, MJ’s father is dead and she has to go to the magical world RIGHT NOW to take the throne. Also for reasons.

So MJ goes to magical royal school to learn about the realm’s history and how to be queen, where she meets the quirky best friend, the mysterious love interest, and the romantic rival, who she calls a skank. Are we still calling other girls skanks for liking the same boys as us in 2024? Felt very 2008 to me, which is ironically when I started reading this author’s work. So again, maybe on me for being surprised.

There’s a mystery element here as MJ learns that of course her father was murdered and obviously there are insurrectionists trying to keep her from the throne, and she must solve this with the help of quirky best friend and mysterious love interest.

It all unfolded in the way you’d expect, and I didn’t feel connected enough to any of the characters for them to make up for how formulaic this story felt. If you’re looking for a lower-YA targeted book, and specifically if you’re interested in Filipino fairy tales, you may have better luck with this one. Such is the possibility when reading YA, but I definitely felt too old for this, and probably won’t pick up the second in the duology when it’s out. Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.