A Fate So Cold

To protect their kingdom from a deadly six-week-long Winter, two teen magicians rail against a Chosen One prophecy in this sizzling romantasy by previous collaborators Foody and Herman (All of Our Demise). Eighteen-year-old magicians Dom and Ellery must bond with a Living Wand—powerful artifacts that grant their chosen wielders access to high-level magic—if they hope to help protect Alderland against the devastating forces of the encroaching Winter. When Valmordion—the most feared Living Wand—awakens and bonds with Dom, the teen assumes the role of Alderland’s Chosen One, destined to subdue the Winter cataclysm like Valmordion’s wielders before him. Simultaneously, Ellery taps into an ancient Winter magic and inadvertently creates a Winter wand. Though Dom and Ellery are happy to team up against the Winter storms, the rest of Alderland is leery of Ellery’s mysterious Winter magic, especially as the cataclysm’s progression proves stronger and stranger than previous iterations. As attraction blossoms between the duo and disaster looms, they realize that the truth behind Winter—and their roles in defeating it—goes deeper than they anticipated. Via an assiduously detailed, lived-in world and fresh, unique magic system, the creators revitalize genre-typical tropes. Scintillating romance, stimulating action, and invigorating mystery elements ensure there’s something for everyone in this exhilarating offering. Main characters cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agents: (for Foody) Whitney Ross, High Line Literary; (for Herman) Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Nov.)