Sibylline (Sibylline #1)

Friendships and romances are tested against the backdrop of a magical Ivy League school in this energetic dark academia fantasy by de la Cruz (The Encanto’s Daughter). After their applications to Sibylline, a renowned college for the magic arts, are rejected, recent high school graduates Atticus, Dorian, and Raven decide to obtain their educations by getting jobs at the university and sneaking their way into classes. Each of them possesses a special ability—Atticus can psychically sense peoples’ emotions and thoughts, Dorian can witness the history of any object he touches, and Raven can speak any language—and as they progress through their clandestine studies, their powers blossom. When an ominous threat to the venerable institution portends bloodshed, the trio must figure out how to use their newfound knowledge to keep the school safe. All the while, they struggle to manage their tempestuous feelings for one another. Disjointed pacing somewhat hampers an adrenaline-pumping opening. Nevertheless, the protagonists’ electric banter and shifting relationships act as an emotional anchor as the kinetic plot unfolds throughout a tense and exciting series opener that will have readers clamoring for the next volume. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 14–up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (Feb.)