All the stars in the daylight sky

Venturing out into the Scottish woods, one wouldn't expect to stumble upon another world, but folklore makes it seem possible. Cam, an agender, autistic teen tired of fighting with her mums, certainly doesn't consider it as she storms off from her Granaidh's cottage into the night after a particularly tense argument. And yet, she happens upon an unexpected path to a door in the woods and out comes Ezra, an enigmatic, charming teen with a knack for gender-affirming shapeshifting. Cam is instructed to run, and she is eventually found by the otherworldly Deirdre and Daibhidh, who present her with a choice: since she is a mortal, she can either become one of them or die. Cam chooses to become an Other, and so begins the process of learning to be magic, all while trying to manage her autism diagnosis, new school, budding relationship with Ezra, and the looming conflict of the Others that Cam's creator, Deirdre, seems to be keeping from her. Steeped in Scottish folk tales of fae (though don't use the F word with the Others) and Gaelic galore, the initial immersion into Cam's two worlds may seem a bit daunting for readers unfamiliar with the culture. But MacGregor represents Gaelic lore well while thoughtfully integrating the nuance of neurodivergence and grief throughout. A welcome, cozy queer romantasy with a uniquely informed twist on the popular fae subgenre.

This atmospheric, otherworldly fantasy by MacGregor (The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will) deploys Scottish mythology to touch on themes of grief and trauma brought about by past experiences with mass shootings and Covid-19. After bouncing between her two mothers in the Scottish Highlands and her father in Texas, 18-year-old Cam, who is autistic and agender, settles in small-town Ballinacollie following her best friend's death. While roaming nearby woods, Cam encounters the immortal Sìthichean, supernatural beings who must either kill Cam to prevent her from exposing their existence or absorb her into their world. Reluctantly accepting their offer to become one of them, Cam--now an immortal with as-yet unknown powers--becomes embroiled in Sìthichean society, befriends gender-fluid Sìthichean prince Ezra, and attempts to balance these new experiences with her school and home life. Having always felt like an outsider, Cam feels as if she's finally found a community that understands her. But that's all forfeit if she doesn't survive the Sìthichean's deadly initiation trials. Cam's gentle budding romance with Ezra as well as interactions with other Sìthichean and Ballinacollie locals offer moments of hope and healing across an empathic and accessible tale of belonging. Features liberal untranslated Gaelic dialogue. Ages 12--up. Agent: Sara Megibow, Megibow Literary. (Oct.)

When an 18-year-old stumbles into the Otherworld, she's given a choice: Become one of the Others or die. Cam Smith is stuck in a world of in-betweens. She's agender, recently diagnosed as autistic, and torn between parents on opposite side of the Atlantic. Now living with her mums and Granaidh, her grandmother, in Scotland, Cam is anxious about entering Oban High School, her seventh school; on top of being queer, older than her peers, and recently arrived from Texas, Cam is coping with PTSD. After a fight with Mam and Mum, Cam runs into the nearby forest, where she meets Ezra, to whom she's inexplicably drawn. Ezra, whose father came from Syria and mother was Scottish, usesthey/them pronouns. When they tell Cam she must leave at once, the white-presenting teen flees through the darkness and accidentally encounters the Sìthichean, or fair folk. She can join them, becoming immortal but unable to reveal her new identity to her family--or be killed. This engaging fantasy dives into Scottish folklore and tradition, effectively exploring the loss of Gaelic cultural knowledge and the worlds of magic it contains. The inclusion of significant amounts of Gaelic language adds authenticity to the worldbuilding. Though the writing feels clumsy at times, the characters and the sparkling queer romance at the heart of the story are enchanting. A magical and romantic fantasy steeped in Gaelic culture. (author's note)(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.