The Hyacinth Labyrinth

Gr 7 Up–In this enchanting romantasy full of sapphic yearning and teacup-sized dragons, Pacton returns to the world of The ­Absinthe Underground for a new stand-alone adventure. High Fae Princess Hyacinth and stable hand Chloe both have secrets that put their lives at risk. ­Hyacinth has no magical powers, and Chloe is a ­human trapped in the Fae realm. All Chloe wants to do is get back to the human realm and to her twin sister. After finding a book with a map of unusual ­locations that once belonged to her long-lost father, Hyacinth runs away with Chloe to try to find him. Armed with Chloe’s sword and Hyacinth’s meager stash of potions, the two friends must navigate through treacherous and new lands and grapple with their ­growing feelings for each other. After all, they never discussed the kiss they once shared. While the happenings of the plot are a little too conveniently timed, it makes for a ­fast-paced and plot-packed yet still cozy story, akin to a game of Dungeons & Dragons or an episode of the television series ­Adventure Time, where the character ­development shines brightest. ­Hyacinth and Chloe are both full of heart and strong in their own ways, and their yearning through the story makes for a delightful friends-to-lovers ­romance. While the protagonists are older teens, the maturity level of the story, light on kissing and with fantasy swear words, makes this perfect for younger teens and tweens. The fae characters have a ­variety of skin colors; Hyacinth has purple skin and Chloe has pale skin. ­