SFF

The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois

Redhook: Orbit. Aug. 2024. 544p. ISBN 9780316418690. $30. FANTASY
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In the heart of early-1900s Paris, magic gleams—cats speak, paintings and books invite people into their worlds, statues move, and pastries make one lighter than air. Only the very young, or those enlightened by Sancts, powerful magic wielders, can see or hear the magic surrounding them. Enter a found family trio of thieves, the Enchantresses, who find magic and are entranced (Sylvie) or consumed (Céleste) or wield magic (Honoré) in a deadly battle between those who hope and wonder and those who feed on fear. As with all tales of magic, dreams are what one makes of them and not all those who possess dreams use them to better the world. Graudin’s (“Wolf by Wolf” series) adult debut weaves real and imagined characters into a tale full of romance, art, curiosity and pain. Interstitial chapters in second person draw readers into the story in a unique, immersive way while adding depth to the larger narrative.
VERDICT An expansive fantasy full of vivid descriptions and a large cast of characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy lush worlds where some aspects of the plot remain gauzy like the shadows lingering throughout this book.
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