City of Halves

Gr 7–10—Girls from Middle Temple are disappearing, and Lily might be next. She is attacked by a bandogge—a two-headed dog—but is saved from death by a stranger, Regan, through their shared rare blood type, H. The incident leaves Lily's understanding of the world chaotically ripped open. She learns that Regan is the Guardian of the Gates and that there is an old and new city of London. Dark beings known as the Chaos are "upsetting the balance" between old and new, and supernatural monsters are flooding London, attacking a small number of girls, and causing harm. To restore the balance, Lily helps Regan as layers of his world continue to unfold. Along the way, Lily discovers connections between her and Regan's world while developing a romantic relationship with him. Inglis blends light romance and urban fantasy with a touch of science-fiction. This action-packed work lacks thorough development of the fantasy world and an emotional connection to Lily. The plot is somewhat clunky and murky, and the characters don't feel fully formed. Still, the action and twists are enough to keep some readers engaged. The book ends wide open to the possibility of a sequel, which could potentially level out the story in future installments.