AN EMBROIDERY OF SOULS by Ruby Martinez
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I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review.
The publisher’s summary
Jade can manipulate souls with the tug of a thread—it’s up to her, and a boy with a soul as bright as the universe to stop a creature on the loose before it claims its next victim in this lush, Mexican & German inspired romantasy.
Jade Aguilar can stitch beauty and brilliance into existence—unravel life itself. Like her mother, she’s a thread speaker in the queendom of Mérecal, where their rare gift can be used only in service of the Crown. When her mother, the master thread speaker, goes missing amid a spree of unusual deaths, the queen orders Jade to find her or be conscripted into a life of servitude.
Lukas Keller, a boy with a heart as bright as the universe, is desperate to save his family from the clutches of poverty. He gets caught up with a vicious gang and is forced to do the one thing he swore he would never do: seek the help of a thread speaker.
Jade and Lukas form a mistrustful alliance. As Mérecal descends into chaos, it’s clear there is something monstrous on the hunt. Jade and Lukas cling to each other for survival—and perhaps . . . something more.
In her spellbinding debut, Ruby Martinez weaves a wildly romantic, heart-pounding mystery set against the backdrop of Mexican and German lore.
My recommendation
This excellent secondary world fantasy features a meticulously grounded magic system and big thriller energy, making it impossible to put down! Authentic and substantive mental health representation weaves character inextricably into the plot, creating a resonant story arc that lingers long after the book closes. I highly recommend this book for any YA collection!
Susan the Librarian 