Starred review from June 3, 2024
1913 Paris, when the City of Light is about to be darkened by WWI, is the setting for this effervescent fantasy from Graudin (Wolf by Wolf). The Enchantresses, a found family of three young women painters running scams and nesting in the famed Pere Lachaise cemetery, butt up against the pasts that each was trying to escape. Swept into the truly magical world of Le Fée Verte, a man with the power to steal other people’s dreams, each Enchantress discovers her own special ability, putting them at risk of being targeted by Le Fée’s nameless nemesis, a dark wizard. Graudin mixes a heady cocktail of decadent parties with the bittersweet tang of a world about to self-destruct. Cameos from real historical figures, including the lost Russian princess Anastasia and Igor Stravinsky, charm without overshadowing the fictional heroines, and Graudin’s already sparkling prose takes a turn for the poetic whenever magic comes into play (“The drink tasted like the last page of a book falling shut or that last slant of sun escaping through drawn curtains”). This is a delectable confection. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary.
July 1, 2024
In the heart of early-1900s Paris, magic gleams--cats speak, paintings and books invite people into their worlds, statues move, and pastries make one lighter than air. Only the very young, or those enlightened by Sancts, powerful magic wielders, can see or hear the magic surrounding them. Enter a found family trio of thieves, the Enchantresses, who find magic and are entranced (Sylvie) or consumed (C�leste) or wield magic (Honor�) in a deadly battle between those who hope and wonder and those who feed on fear. As with all tales of magic, dreams are what one makes of them and not all those who possess dreams use them to better the world. Graudin's ("Wolf by Wolf" series) adult debut weaves real and imagined characters into a tale full of romance, art, curiosity and pain. Interstitial chapters in second person draw readers into the story in a unique, immersive way while adding depth to the larger narrative. VERDICT An expansive fantasy full of vivid descriptions and a large cast of characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy lush worlds where some aspects of the plot remain gauzy like the shadows lingering throughout this book.--Katie Lawrence
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