“I confess, a wall of worry rises for even the most confident fool when he realizes that his plot for saving the day lies with three squirrels, a troupe of earnest nitwits, a donkey-headed weaver, a silver-thirsty goblin, a notoriously unreliable narrator, and a hat-shagging monkey.”

This bawdy, farcical, mystery retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream isn't going to be for everyone — it wasn't really for me — but it's undoubtedly clever and well written. This is the third book in the Fool series, which follows the exploits of Pocket of Dog Snogging, a fool/jester. It's the first I've read of Moore's books, and I admit I was hoping for something a little more Terry Pratchett-ish and a little less, well, dog snogging and hat shagging.

Content notes: crude humor featuring lots of snogging, wanking, shagging, bonking, and an unfortunate amount of slut shaming; death and fantasy violence

Awful and brilliant. Grown had me filled with dread and rage and sympathy and horror. I'm absolutely glad I read it, but even in the lightest moments, even in the unexpected beats and twists of the unfolding mystery, that sense of dread made this a difficult read. It's far more and far worse than just a contemporary YA thriller. It's a revelation and an indictment.

I usually include a content note at the end of my reviews, but this one requires a more prominent placement. Please handle with care. Content notes: main character Korey Fields is loosely based on R. Kelly and situations described in the book are loosely based on the decades' worth of abuse allegations against R. Kelly, including rape of a minor(s), grooming, brainwashing, controlling and isolating behavior, gaslighting, assault and physical abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, lying, child pornography, revenge porn, misogyny, underage drinking, substance abuse, addiction, enablement, victim shaming, unsympathetic police and community , mental illness, financial stress

Told with a dual then-and-now timeline, the book opens with now. Enchanted wakes confused in a room covered in blood and Korey Fields stabbed to death on the bed. The then narrative paints a picture of the normal life of 17-year-old Enchanted "Chanty" Jones: hanging out with teammates and friends; suffering the love and indignities of a large, close-knit Black family that holds onto their suburban life by thin margins; desperately longing to develop her undeniable singing talent into a viable career path; and, once superstar Korey Fields spots Chanty at an audition, falling in love and following the 28-year-old Fields on what she hopes is that path. As then draws closer to now, we watch the path lead to that blood-soaked room and into the mysteries, investigations, and revelations beyond.

Written in 4 parts and 90 short chapters, there's is a tense, break-neck pace to this book that many readers will find engrossing and some will find merciful. It's compelling and relevant, centers the voice of a talented and strong Black girl, and offers an opportunity for so many important discussions about power and abuse, love and consent, race and gender and vulnerability, community, and more. Highly recommended but with serious caveats for content warnings, and a bit of discomfort about this story being read as a thriller or for "the thrill."

My thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for a digital ARC.

4.5 stars for A+ world-building in a stunning West Africa-inspired setting with intriguing magic systems; a female lead with intelligence and strength and brokenness and compassion; a plot that meanders just enough to give you time to absorb the atmosphere but continually raises the stakes as it takes you into territory you didn't anticipate; and an ending that is satisfying on its own but also leaves you with high hopes for the conclusion of this duology. All by a debut author!

A sweet, clever, contemporary YA romance with awfully mature teens mapping wisdom from 19th-century literature onto modern-day high school pursuits. It works about as well as you'd imagine.

Lots to love here for classical lit lovers — you can play "spot the reference" throughout the whole book — but the strength is in the friendships Mary makes and the lessons she learns. Yes, you're the lead in your own story, but life isn't written yet, and you get to revise as you go.