Review by Booklist Review
Gwendolyn is a highly motivated publicist whose events can make or break celebrities. She's long since put her past behind her, including her magic and the way her godmother had her use it. But the Intermedio, where the spirits roam, is not done with her yet. She and her medium cousin, Fonsi, soon discover that a breach is opening between the worlds. And the further it opens, the more spirits will pass through, wreaking havoc on the people of New York City. Gwen and Fonsi must confront their inner demons and their shared childhood if they're going to succeed in warding off this mystical threat. Haynes (author with Omar Epps of the YA sf/fantasy, Nubia, 2022) draws on Yoruba orisha (deities) and practices to create a solo debut fantasy that has a compelling, diverse cast of characters and a little bit of romance. His success lies in the two charismatic and multilayered protagonists, cousins Gwen and Fonsi, as well as in the frightening, bloody scares they endure from poltergeists and visions. Also an ode to queer and marginalized communities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Haynes's spellbinding solo debut (after Nubia, written with Omar Epps) reunites estranged cousins with otherworldly powers. A terrible accident made teen medium Giselda flee from her gifts, reject her heritage and her family, and change her name to Gwendolyn. Now a top executive at a PR firm, she sees her past literally come back to haunt her when a client's Brooklyn fashion show is disrupted by a shocking supernatural display. Meanwhile, her cousin Fonsi reels from a bad breakup with his boyfriend but continues practicing as a medium, interacting with spirits in El Intermedio, a limbo for ghosts who haven't let go. When he realizes there's a rift in El Intermedio through which a vast number of ghosts may be able to escape, he knows he must find Gwendolyn, the only medium powerful enough to fix it. As the pair band together to save the world, Haynes delivers emotional payoffs to both of their arcs, with Gwendolyn learning to accept her power and Fonsi coming to value himself enough to seek out a healthier relationship. This dovetailing of external and internal stakes keeps the pages flying. The result is an accomplished urban fantasy that's sure to win Haynes plenty of fans. (June)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A superstar publicist has to contend with the literal ghosts of her past when they attempt to ruin her life in this debut novel. Gwendolyn Montgomery has it all: the nice apartment, the fancy clothes, the perfect job, and she's just recently begun dating James H. Watson, who just might be the man of her dreams. So when terrible things start happening at all of her events, with a clear message that they're intended for her, she knows the past she's been running from might have caught up with her. Across town, Fonsi Harewood, shop owner and medium, is informed of a breach between the world of the living and the world of the dead that will come to a head very soon. In order to stop it, he needs to find help from someone more powerful, someone who can manipulate the worlds themselves, while also dealing with the love triangle he's found himself in with his ex-boyfriend and an attentive ghost. Together, Gwendolyn and Fonsi might be either the team that can save the world or just watch as it burns. Haynes has created a mystical, sensuous, dangerous world of spirits and power while also making characters that feel three-dimensional and knowable. Friendships feel real; family problems have the weight of generations of fights and secrets behind them. Like the best fantasy novels, there is room for a million more stories to be told, to see how things progress after the last pages with both the characters and the world itself. There are twists and turns, but everything is grounded in a sense of reality, impressive for a world steeped in spirits. This is a strong debut for a new, interesting voice with things to say. A smart, sexy story filled with ghosts, history, and resilience. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
