In this spellbinding romantasy, an agender teen stumbles into the fae world and finds love and belonging—but at what cost?
Eighteen-year-old Cam bounces between houses in Texas and Scotland and has always thought that’s why she doesn’t feel at home in either place. A recent Autism diagnosis followed by a fight with her mothers adds an extra layer of real-life stress, only amplifying her struggle to belong. However, things take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with members of the Otherworld deep in a Scottish forest. With the Gaelic wisdom from her Granaidh (Grandma), Cam understands that she has been noticed by the Fair Folk, and that this means that her life is suddenly in grave danger.
Cam must make a choice: face the danger or join the Others and never see her family again. With her human ties fraying even further, the allure of the Others' acceptance tugs at Cam’s heart, but is she ready to say goodbye to her family forever? From the acclaimed author of The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, this is a lush, lyrical romantasy novel set at the crossroads of belonging and the magical realm of the unknown.
★ "Venturing out into the Scottish woods, one wouldn’t expect to stumble upon another world, but folklore makes it seem possible... MacGregor represents Gaelic lore well while thoughtfully integrating the nuance of neurodivergence and grief throughout. A welcome, cozy queer romantasy with a uniquely informed twist on the popular fae subgenre."—Booklist, starred review
“This atmospheric, otherworldly fantasy by MacGregor (The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will) deploys Scottish mythology to touch on themes of grief and trauma brought about by past experiences with mass shootings and Covid-19... Cam's gentle budding romance with other Sithichean and Ballinacollie locals offers moments of hope and healing across an empathic and accessible tale of belonging.”—Publishers Weekly
"This engaging fantasy dives into Scottish folklore and tradition, effectively exploring the loss of Gaelic cultural knowledge and the worlds of magic it contains. The inclusion of significant amounts of Gaelic language adds authenticity to the worldbuilding... the characters and the sparkling queer romance at the heart of the story are enchanting. A magical and romantic fantasy steeped in Gaelic culture."—Kirkus Reviews
"This novel excels as a character-driven story, offering thoughtful, respectful autism representation that avoids stereotypes or trauma-centric narratives; Cam’s internal logic, routines, and responses feel authentic and relatable, particularly for neurodivergent readers... cultural diversity is meaningfully explored through Scottish identity, folklore, and the reclamation of Gaelic language... The romance will appeal to younger teens not quite ready for the steamy stuff. A strong addition to middle grade and YA collections, particularly for readers who enjoy magical realism and character-focused storytelling. Recommended for libraries seeking inclusive, thoughtful fantasy."—School Library Journal
Maya MacGregor is a writer, singer, and artist. They sing and write in Gàidhlig and in English. You can find their bilingual work on tor.com, in Steall magazine (summer 2020), and Uncanny magazine, with poetry in Poets' Republic and elsewhere. They sing with the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association, the Alba Choir, and Fuaran. The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, their first young adult novel, is a Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Nominee.
View titles by Maya MacGregor
Discover ALL THE STARS IN THE DAYLIGHT SKY with Author Maya MacGregor
In this spellbinding romantasy, an agender teen stumbles into the fae world and finds love and belonging—but at what cost?
Eighteen-year-old Cam bounces between houses in Texas and Scotland and has always thought that’s why she doesn’t feel at home in either place. A recent Autism diagnosis followed by a fight with her mothers adds an extra layer of real-life stress, only amplifying her struggle to belong. However, things take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with members of the Otherworld deep in a Scottish forest. With the Gaelic wisdom from her Granaidh (Grandma), Cam understands that she has been noticed by the Fair Folk, and that this means that her life is suddenly in grave danger.
Cam must make a choice: face the danger or join the Others and never see her family again. With her human ties fraying even further, the allure of the Others' acceptance tugs at Cam’s heart, but is she ready to say goodbye to her family forever? From the acclaimed author of The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, this is a lush, lyrical romantasy novel set at the crossroads of belonging and the magical realm of the unknown.
Praise
★ "Venturing out into the Scottish woods, one wouldn’t expect to stumble upon another world, but folklore makes it seem possible... MacGregor represents Gaelic lore well while thoughtfully integrating the nuance of neurodivergence and grief throughout. A welcome, cozy queer romantasy with a uniquely informed twist on the popular fae subgenre."—Booklist, starred review
“This atmospheric, otherworldly fantasy by MacGregor (The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will) deploys Scottish mythology to touch on themes of grief and trauma brought about by past experiences with mass shootings and Covid-19... Cam's gentle budding romance with other Sithichean and Ballinacollie locals offers moments of hope and healing across an empathic and accessible tale of belonging.”—Publishers Weekly
"This engaging fantasy dives into Scottish folklore and tradition, effectively exploring the loss of Gaelic cultural knowledge and the worlds of magic it contains. The inclusion of significant amounts of Gaelic language adds authenticity to the worldbuilding... the characters and the sparkling queer romance at the heart of the story are enchanting. A magical and romantic fantasy steeped in Gaelic culture."—Kirkus Reviews
"This novel excels as a character-driven story, offering thoughtful, respectful autism representation that avoids stereotypes or trauma-centric narratives; Cam’s internal logic, routines, and responses feel authentic and relatable, particularly for neurodivergent readers... cultural diversity is meaningfully explored through Scottish identity, folklore, and the reclamation of Gaelic language... The romance will appeal to younger teens not quite ready for the steamy stuff. A strong addition to middle grade and YA collections, particularly for readers who enjoy magical realism and character-focused storytelling. Recommended for libraries seeking inclusive, thoughtful fantasy."—School Library Journal
Author
Maya MacGregor is a writer, singer, and artist. They sing and write in Gàidhlig and in English. You can find their bilingual work on tor.com, in Steall magazine (summer 2020), and Uncanny magazine, with poetry in Poets' Republic and elsewhere. They sing with the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association, the Alba Choir, and Fuaran. The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, their first young adult novel, is a Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Nominee.
View titles by Maya MacGregor
Media
Discover ALL THE STARS IN THE DAYLIGHT SKY with Author Maya MacGregor
