Sword in the Stars (Once & Future Series)

by Amy Rose Capetta, Cori McCarthy

Overview

In this epic sequel to Once & Future, Ari and her Rainbow knights must pull off a Holy Grail heist thousands of years in the past — without destroying their own destinies.


Ari Helix may have won her battle against the tyrannical Mercer corporation, but the larger war has just begun. Ari and her cursed wizard Merlin must travel back in time to the unenlightened Middle Ages and steal the King Arthur's Grail — the very definition of impossible. It's imperative that the time travelers not skew the timeline and alter the course of history. Coming face to face with the original Arthurian legend could produce a ripple effect that changes everything. Somehow Merlin forgot that the past can be even more dangerous than the future . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316449298
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Series:	Once & Future Series , #2
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	83,433
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Cori McCarthy is the author of four young adult books, including Breaking Sky, which received multiple starred reviews and is in development to become a film by Sony Pictures, as well as a forthcoming nonfiction picture book about Kahlil Gibran. Cori is an Irish-Lebanese American who spends most of their time playing guitar, reading poetry, and teaching writing. Like many of their characters, they are a member of the LGBTQ+ community. After earning a BA in Creative Writing from Ohio University, focusing in memoir writing and poetry, they completed UCLA's Professional Program in Screenwriting and earned an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Cori lives in the mountains of Vermont with their partner, fellow YA author Amy Rose Capetta, where together they raise their young son, Maverick, and hopefully one day soon, a puppy!


Amy Rose Capetta is the YA author of a punk rock space opera (Entangled and Unmade), a queer love story slash murder mystery (Echo After Echo), and an Italian-inspired fantasy series starting with The Brilliant Death, which releases October 2018. Amy Rose holds a BA in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA. With Cori, she is the co-founder of the Rainbow Boxes initiative which sent LGBTQIAP fiction to readers in all 50 states, and the Rainbow Writers Workshop, which helps find and develop exciting new voices. She loves lady heroes, badass queens, nonbinary knights, enchantresses and magicians in equal measure. She lives in Vermont with her Once & Future co-author and the champion of her heart, Cori McCarthy.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for ONCE & FUTURE—-


* "All hail this worthier-than-ever, fresh, and affirming reincarnation of the legendary king and her round table of knights which dazzles with heroic flair, humor, and suspense."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW


* "A marvelous mythology remix for teens who enjoy action-packed speculative fiction and genderqueer romance."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW


*"This epic space adventure... is a must-have."—School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW


"Fun and fearless, this story romps right across the galaxy and into your heart."—Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae


"Pointedly funny and deftly topical, an effortless Arthurian update with heart in all the right places."—#1 New York Times Bestselling Author E.K. Johnston

"Once & Future is an utterly delightful romp, full of witty voice, imaginative adventures, and deeply lovable characters. It kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. I couldn't put it down!"—Katherine Locke, author of The Girl with the Red Balloon (2018 Sydney Taylor Honor Book)

"Once & Future is a sizzling, bold exploration of gender, power, and revolution. Its dynamic and diverse cast will inspire and delight readers. I loved every second!"—Jessica Khoury, author of The Forbidden Wish


"A rip-roaring, no-holds-barred, gloriously queer reinvention of Arthurian legend."—Malinda Lo, author of Ash and A Line in the Dark

From the Publisher

★ 04/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—A thrilling sequel and epic conclusion to Capetta and McCarthy's Once and Future. After defeating the Mercer Corporation in her first battle, Ari (the 42nd incarnation of King Arthur), Queen Gweneviere, the cursed young Merlin, and the Rainbow Knights travel back in time to the Middle Ages to steal Arthur's Grail from the all-seeing time enchantress, the Lady of the Lake. While on the perilous quest, these futuristic time-traveling heroes can't skew the time line or alter the course of history—an impossible task once Ari comes face-to-face with the original Arthurian legend, and the young, cursed Merlin meets his older past self. After completing her quest, Ari must face a powerful foe in the final battle that will determine her fate and the end or continuation of the curse that brings the Arthurian legend alive throughout time. This is a stimulating installment in a stellar series. The descriptions, character development, unique plot twists, and conclusion will leave readers thirsting for a third novel. Pair with Kiersten White's The Guinevere Deception and Mari Mancusi's The Camelot Code. VERDICT This inclusive, gender-bent adventure story is a must-have science fiction/fantasy sequel for all young adult collections.—Angelina Bair, Lakewood Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

2020-01-07
A band of heroes travels through time to put an end to King Arthur's tragedy and save their future from corporate corruption.

In this second and final installment of a science-fiction reimagining of Arthurian legend, Ari, Merlin, and their friends crash into the past to steal a magic chalice from Camelot. They are guided by their quest to set the spirit of King Arthur free from his cycle of reincarnation and put a stop to Mercer, a murderous mega-corporation. However, their plans fall apart when they find themselves entangled in the legend—love triangle included—with Ari in the role of Lancelot and Gwen married to Arthur. Meanwhile, Merlin ages backward every time he uses magic. One false move could disrupt their whole timeline. Capetta (The Storm of Life, 2020, etc.) and McCarthy (Once & Future, 2019, etc.) have crafted a fast-paced, turbulent plotline with satisfying twists and luscious queer romance. Throughout they critique the whitewashing of medieval European history and, particularly, Arthurian retellings. Their cast of characters displays an intentional diversity of identities, including polyamorous. Encounters with Merlin's past self and conflict with the Lady of the Lake explore the question of what makes someone a villain. Without rushing, the story resolves through a path of healing from the trauma of the past.

A heroic finale. (Science fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

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