FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile
Amanda Dolan mesmerizes listeners with her raw portrayal of Endla, a mysterious magical island inhabited by fierce protectors and surrounded by a poisonous lake to deter outsiders from entering. Teenager Leelo possesses the gift of magical song that is necessary for the island’s survival; those who don’t have the same gift, such as her younger brother, are exiled from the island. When an outsider named Jaren arrives on Endla, Leelo makes an unthinkable choice that puts them both in danger and sparks revelations of Endla’s history that will alter things forever. Dolan’s ability to portray both innocence and complicity will hold listeners fast. She captures teenage longing and rebellion with a truth that is as compelling as it is believable. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"Mara Rutherford’s The Poison Season took me on journey through a bloodthirsty forest, where two star-crossed lovers discover the true meaning of poison. It brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!" — Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique
"Whimsical, romantic, and satisfying." —Kirkus Reviews
“This darkly magical tale, mixing forbidden romance, family drama, and a suspenseful mystery, is a strong standalone fantasy.” —Booklist
"The Poison Season is a haunting and fairytale-esque YA fantasy about fear, love, and community. Recommend for fans of Small Favors, Lakesedge, and The Bone Houses." —YA Books Central
Praise for A Multitude of Dreams:
“Rutherford’s talent for creating a story that haunts and unravels you is not unlike Poe in her mastery.” —Buzzfeed
“A bloody, fast-paced, and starkly beautiful reimagining of a Gothic classic—with a determined, fierce heroine at its heart. You’ll be lured into the rotten opulence of Eldridge Hall, and you won’t ever want to leave.” —Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
“Mara Rutherford’s gothic fantasy glitters with romance and dangerous secrets, rotting castles and slow-burning suspense. A spellbinding tale woven with horror and hope that will linger with readers long after the final page." —Rebecca Ross, New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals
"With its slow-burning romance, masquerading characters, and dangerous castle intrigue, this timely fantasy enthralled me from the first page to last!” —Kathryn Purdie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bone Crier’s Moon
"A Multitude of Dreams immerses you in lush, grotesque glamor; a world of decaying gothic manors and sinister monsters, where suspenseful horror is threaded with an undercurrent of determination and hope." —Lyndall Clipstone, author of the World at the Lake’s Edge duology and Unholy Terrors
"Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” this lush, eerie tale balances mystery, horror, and romance...Exquisitely moody and goose bumps-inducing." —Kirkus Reviews
New York Times bestselling author Emily J. Taylor
Evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!”
FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile
Amanda Dolan mesmerizes listeners with her raw portrayal of Endla, a mysterious magical island inhabited by fierce protectors and surrounded by a poisonous lake to deter outsiders from entering. Teenager Leelo possesses the gift of magical song that is necessary for the island’s survival; those who don’t have the same gift, such as her younger brother, are exiled from the island. When an outsider named Jaren arrives on Endla, Leelo makes an unthinkable choice that puts them both in danger and sparks revelations of Endla’s history that will alter things forever. Dolan’s ability to portray both innocence and complicity will hold listeners fast. She captures teenage longing and rebellion with a truth that is as compelling as it is believable. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-09-14
A bloodthirsty forest and a forbidden romance set the mood for this fantasy novel.
Life on the island of Endla has been the same for generations. Those who have magic stay behind to protect the bloodthirsty Wandering Forests, and they are protected in return from the outsiders who dare cross the poisonous lake that surrounds it. But those who don’t show any magical skills are sent away, never to return, as is the case with Leelo’s beloved but magicless younger brother, Tate, who is set to be exiled soon. As a Watcher, Leelo is one of the islanders whose singing holds deadly power, and in a desperate attempt to help Tate stay, she performs an illicit sacrifice, shedding her own blood and releasing a song. Sadly, this ritual doesn’t save her brother, but an outsider hears her mournful, enthralling music. Jaren doesn’t believe in magic, but a twist of fate leaves him wounded and trapped on the island, at the mercy of a beautiful islander—Leelo. As they grow closer, the two teens face impossible odds. This skillful blend of romance, mystery, and fantasy focuses on how Leelo’s love for her family and, eventually, Jaren leads her to question the very fabric of her reality and unveil the dark, bloody secrets behind the island and its twisted society. Leelo and Jaren share a narrative that keeps readers trying to guess its secrets up to the satisfying ending. All characters are cued White.
Whimsical, romantic, and satisfying. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)
