Last Sunrise in Eterna

January 15, 2023
An elf-hating goth girl is blackmailed into taking part in a magic exchange on the elves' private island of Eterna, off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Sevim Burgos steals elf corpses and sells them to a university professor for his studies--partly for the money her family needs, partly to get back at the elves that caused her father's death. When Aro Herrera, the youngest elven prince, catches Sevim red-handed, he kidnaps Sevim's mother in order to blackmail her into taking part in the Exchange. The annual weeklong event takes place on Eterna, where most elves have lived since leaving their home on Vieques after the U.S. Navy arrived. Three teenagers are allowed onto Eterna, where they can earn magical powers in exchange for their dreams, which feed the elves' own powers of illusion. Alongside her two other human companions, Jason Baxter, a Black trans boy from Atlanta, and Kang Ryujin, a South Korean gymnast, Sevim undergoes the elves' challenges. But the more time Sevim spends on Eterna, the more she realizes that Aro is keeping dangerous secrets--secrets that may well determine her own fate. Featuring plenty of adventure, puzzles, twists, and a dash of romance, this novel has original, if slightly convoluted, worldbuilding that forms the basis of an imaginative story about friendship, family, and, ultimately, carving out your own identity. A magical and romantic tale of identity. (Fantasy. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 30, 2023
Three human teens are whisked away to Eterna, an elven island off the coast of Puerto Rico, to participate in a magical event in this enticing fantasy by Ortiz (Dragonblood Ring). To make ends meet following her father’s murder by elves, 17-year-old Sevim Burgos begins scavenging and selling elf corpses to her father’s childhood friend, corrupt Doctor Ramírez. When elf prince Aro Herrera catches Sevim in the act, Doctor Ramírez denies any involvement with Sevim and coldly fires her. Sevim’s mother is then kidnapped by Aro, who promises to set her free if Sevim participates in the annual Exchange, a weeklong event that takes place on Eterna. During the occasion, three human teens give up their ability to dream in exchange for temporary use of magic to complete challenges. As the event unfolds, Sevim learns that Eterna is home to even more treacherous secrets than she realized, and saving her mother becomes the least of her worries. Ortiz imbues the narrative’s worldbuilding and magic system with abundant cultural details, entrenching the high-stakes competition with a deep appreciation for Puerto Rican lore. Through a large cast containing characters of varying abilities, sexualities, and skin tones, the author explores myriad themes of grief and identity. Ages 14–up. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

February 15, 2023
Grades 9-12 Goth girl Sevim Burgos helps her mother make ends meet by engaging in a lucrative but shady business--selling elf corpses to a university professor. These bodies are the product of an elf war that has spilled onto Puerto Rico from the nearby island of Eterna. When her employer demands that Sevim bring him the body of one of the Iron Staff clan, the 17-year-old is pulled into the orbit of Eterna's royal family and a carefully laid trap. Believing she is about to retrieve the body of Prince Aro, Sevim instead finds herself tricked into becoming a participant in The Exchange--a week of tests and competitions spent on Eterna. If Sevim doesn't comply (and win the competitions), her mother will be killed. Ortiz (Blazewrath Games, 2020) creates a unique setting that mixes the pedestrian (Burger King, Krispy Kreme, Instagram) with ethereal fantasy. Readers will enjoy the bravery of confident, edgy Sevim and be invested in her trials on Eterna--as well as the family secrets she uncovers there. A dream-fueled saga that mixes magic with nightmares.

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