From the Publisher
Debut author Birch’s magic system of energy threads is fresh…The story follows familiar but entertaining beats, including a slow-burn romance and a magical conspiracy, while perfectionist Terra’s identity crisis and search for self-determination add emotional weight.” —Booklist
"Heartfelt and emotional. Through the fresh perspective of a high-schooler grappling with her newfound identity as a golem, Birch writes with tender care about what it means to be human." —Vanessa Le, author of The Last Bloodcarver
"Jenny Birch’s debut is a delight—a fantasy that feels as real as the family at its heart. Filled with flesh-and-blood (and mud) characters, eye-popping enchantments, and the humble magic of home, the beautifully crafted, deeply felt world comes to life under the artist’s skilled hands." —Joshua David Bellin, author of Survival Colony 9
"Jenny Birch's poignant debut is a magical journey about identity, belonging, and figuring out who you truly are." —Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace
"Charming, magical and swoonworthy—this golem-meets-witch debut was an utter delight!" –Kika Hatzopoulou, bestselling author of Threads That Bind
"Birch offers readers a thrilling world of witches and bounty hunters in a story that handles the well-tread theme of what makes us human exceptionally well." –Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Kirkus Reviews
2025-05-16
In Birch’s debut, a golem’s world is upended when she meets a witch.
Terra Slater is anticipating senior year—applying to college, making memories with friends—when her normal life suddenly takes an unexpected turn. At the Labor Day parade, she’s confronted by the mysterious Thorne Wilder, a rare new arrival in North Heights. Despite a rocky start, once Thorne reveals to Terra that she’s really a golem they form an unlikely alliance. Thorne is an apprentice witch who’s working for a coven that ensures that “magic is used honorably”—he’s on a mission to find and capture the notorious missing warlock Cyrus Quill, who perpetrated a crime generations ago. Terra knows Mr. Quill as the town’s adoption lawyer, but he actually created the golem teenagers who populate the small, bucolic town, all of whom were adopted. As Terra unravels her origin story, learning that she too has magical abilities, she must keep this history a secret until she accomplishes the one thing that will either save or destroy them all: assist Thorne in bringing Quill in, even if it means the end of Terra and the other golem teens. Romance, family, mystery, trust, and betrayal weave seamlessly throughout this highly imaginative story of survival and sacrifice, which has humanity at its thoughtful core. Most characters are cued white. Golems’ connection to Jewish folklore doesn’t arise in the book.
A creative exploration of a magical tapestry.(Fantasy. 14-18)
