Unlock the Dark

A teenage key conjurista scrambles to save her family in this imaginative romantasy debut. Elia Tallis, whose power is capable of unlocking almost anything, is determined to keep her gravely ill father alive using magic until she turns 19 and can legally take over guardianship of her younger siblings. Then Morthanos, the god of death, claims her youngest brother as an acolyte as punishment for delaying her father’s death. Hoping to find a way to release her brother from Morthanos’s clutches, Elia reluctantly makes a bargain with Prince Trystoferian Lightdragon, ninth in line for the throne. In exchange for the prince’s resources and protection for her remaining siblings, Elia must accompany him to a land that’s closed to outsiders in search of the Scroll of Peace, which is said to have the power to end the relentless war ravaging their kingdom. The duo successfully obtain the scroll, but its effects are not what the prince imagines and Elia, narrowly escaping with her life, must now find a way to rescue him. Lengthy buildup and expository worldbuilding make the high-adrenaline plot points of this complex and exciting adventure feel rushed, occasionally stunting the narrative’s emotional impact. The protagonists cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amy Giufridda, Belcastro Literary. (Feb.)