10/01/2022
Gr 8 Up—At 16, Selestra is two years away from her full powers, when her green hair, pale skin, and yellow snakelike eyes will mark her as the king's witch. But when the immortal king demands she prove herself at the Festival of Predictions, her first prophecy entwines her fate with that of the midnight-haired, brown-skinned Nox, the kingdom's best soldier who's out for vengeance. Determined to keep them both alive, Selestra agrees to help Nox, and they set off on a quest for a mythical sword that could end the king's brutal reign once and for all. Highlighted by fun, snappy banter and themes of legacy, sacrifice, parental love, and expectation, the individual growth and unwilling alliance of Selestra and Nox are the book's primary focus, albeit at the expense of more fully developing side characters. Christo's writing is evocative and propulsive, whisking characters from one heart-stopping confrontation to the next as the story builds to its final, though rushed and somewhat overstuffed, act; she showcases skillful worldbuilding with tantalizing lore and magic systems. VERDICT This novel immerses readers in a vivid world of cursed witches, ruthless kings, and unimaginable power. Fans of Christo's To Kill a Kingdom will delight in returning to this universe, and readers of fairy-tale retellings and fast-paced YA fantasy will find this a unique, compelling reimagining of the classic Rapunzel tale.—Madeline Newquist
"High stakes and dangerous escapades. Princess of Souls takes you on a thrilling journey alongside a witch trying to walk her own path and the clever soldier laying the way. This is Rapunzel glistening with dark magic galore." Chloe Gong, the New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"Christo has cast a spell with this decadently dark tale of witches, fate, and defying death; her hallmark humor is as sharp as a blade; equally, her expert handling of a romance sure to be devoured by readers sparks true magic" —Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold
"Princess of Souls sucked me in from the very first sentence. Its premise is as delightful as it is creepy, with characters to match. Nox and Selestra are here for vengeance, and everybody else had better stay out of their way." Tricia Levenseller, author of The Shadows Between Us
"Dual perspectives keep the narrative moving, and vibrant imagery combined with humorous banter and excellent interpersonal chemistry will make this a joy for fans of slow-burn romances. " —Booklist Online
"Christo’s writing is evocative and propulsive, whisking characters from one heart-stopping confrontation to the next ... readers of fairy-tale retellings and fast-paced YA fantasy will find this a unique, compelling reimagining of the classic Rapunzel tale." School Library Journal
"Fans of Marissa Meyer will like Christo’s highly digestible writing style and the fast-paced action-adventure story that echoes modern classics like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Princess Bride." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)
For To Kill a Kingdom:
“With well-crafted fight scenes and vivid descriptions, Christo has created a world of beauty and monstrosity that will draw readers in.” —Publishers Weekly
“Stellar world building and nonstop action will keep readers hooked on this twisted reimagining of “The Little Mermaid.” —Booklist Online
“Fantasy fans will like the idea of sirens and piratelike princes as the characters who are imaginative and well developed.” —School Library Journal
“Readers who enjoy dark fairy tales of 'The Little Mermaid' persuasion will sink into this bloody tale with pleasure.” —RT Book Reviews
“The world building is deft, and the spectacular ending is a happy one for Lira and Elian, but it will leave readers blissfully wanting more.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)
For Into the Crooked Place:
"With its gangland details, creative magical caste system and surprisingly brutal characters, Into the Crooked Place is very much its own thing. And that thing will likely be a story you can’t put down." —Culturess
"Christo offers the reader creative and thoughtful backstories for each protagonist, along with fully realized worlds rife with magic . . . Everywhere are people of color and acknowledgment of LGBTQ characters—nice touches not always seen in fantasy." —Booklist
"Christo has done an amazing amount of worldbuilding with this book . . . The way her characters use magic, the mythology of each of her characters within their backstories, and the timing with which these backstories are revealed—pure magic, pun intended!" —MuggleNet
"It’s a gangster heist story dealing with a lot of heavy themes, but I think everyone will find something to love in this story . . . . It's a wonderful read with awesome characters." —The Nerd Daily