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she doesn’t, the entire inheritance goes to her awful cousin, Carlyle. Desperate to provide for her disabled brother, Mouse makes an ill-advised deal with a Faerie, Thornwood, who shocks her by appearing on the property. He agrees to use his magic to restore Thistlemarsh to its former glory. As the two work together, a soft and sweet romance takes root. Despite their dia- metrically opposed worldviews, Mouse and Thornwood go from entertaining disagreements to slowly earned respect. The duo’s dynamic keeps the novel afloat, even when their investi- gation into the estate’s magic under- whelms, suffering from a few too many convenient turns. A sense of isolation, stemming from a lack of interaction with the surrounding town of Tithe, makes the world of the novel feel somewhat limited and flat but gives the small cast more time to shine. H.G. Parry and Heather Fawcett fans should take a chance on this one. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Apr.) The Tomorrow Project H Critchlow. Canelo, $18 trade paper (356p) ISBN 979-8-217-25331-9 A braided account of the apocalypse, this heartbreaking near-future thriller from Critchlow ( Unsolved , written as Heather Critchlow) follows three protagonists as they struggle with the end and the beginning of civilization. In 2050, a deadly virus is sweeping the U.K. Marianne, press secretary to the prime minister, goes against her own government’s policy by smug- gling unapproved children aboard the evacuation trains in hopes of saving their lives. Single mother Sofie, who dreams of escaping back to France, surrenders her seven-year-old daugh- ter, Maia, to Marianne to get her out of plague-overrun London. Missing her maman, Maia makes the unsanc- tioned journey to the rural evacuation camp and tries to blend in with the officially selected children. Years later, when camp resources begin to run out, Maia sets out for London determined to discover what happened to Sofie. Readers will find it easy to root for Maia in this quest, but even her suc- cess may come with a price. Critchlow
keeps the worldbuilding fairly loose, eliding some technical details of life at the evacuation camp, but she sharply examines the ways people in and out of power react to a world-shattering crisis. This brisk adventure offers both excite- ment and food for thought. (Apr.) Year of the Mer L.D. Lewis. Saga, $30 (400p) ISBN 978-1-6680-6095-7 More than a mere retelling, this darkly enchanting sequel to “The Little Mermaid” from Lewis ( The Dead Witheld ) conjures an expansive under- water world while keeping much of the original tale intact. Years before the start of the book, Arielle left the sea to be with her prince, giving up her tail for legs and abandoning her kingdom of Mer for the kingdom of Men. Now, her granddaughter, Yemaya Blackgate, aka Yemi, must deal with the con- sequences of Arielle’s actions as she prepares to take the throne of Ixia. Her fearsome mother is dying of a curse that’s slowly turning her to stone and her kingdom is in crisis, spurred by the grumblings of those who would prefer not to have Arielle’s bloodline on the throne. When an uprising leaves Yemi exiled, her determination to take back the throne leads her to Ursla. Yemi’s drive for bloody vengeance is strong, and she’s tempted into a deal with the sea witch just as her grandmother was before her. But Ursla has her own motivations for helping Yemi and the throne Yemi so strongly desires to retake won’t come without a price. Lewis’s worldbuilding impresses, seam- lessly blending magic and mythology with burgeoning technology. Fans of grim fairy tales will be excited to see where Lewis takes things next. (Apr.) ROMANCE & EROTICA Chasing the Clouds Away Debbie Macomber. Ballantine, $30 (320p) ISBN 979-8-217-09167-6 Bestseller Macomber ( Must Love Flowers ) delivers a heartwarming tale of love between a wealthy but cynical man and a struggling but optimistic woman. Chase Furst, heir to a Chicago banking empire, is disgruntled when his first-class flight to Seattle seats
him next to chatty and upbeat Maisy Gallagher, whose ticket was unexpect- edly upgraded. Though Chase is rude to her in transit, Maisy offers him a ride after the car he booked doesn’t show up at the airport and shows him kindness when he reveals that he’s in Seattle to arrange the funeral for his late estranged mother. Endeared by Maisy’s compas- sion, Chase stays in touch with her upon returning to Chicago, and their bond deepens over phone calls and text messages. Their romance develops quickly despite warnings from their respective families about the differ- ences between their class backgrounds. Maisy’s family-run jewelry store in Seattle is floundering, and when finan- cial crisis looms, Chase struggles with whether to provide help despite Maisy’s insistence on independence. Macomber imbues the grumpy/sunshine trope with an impressive amount of authen- ticity and makes Chase falling for Maisy’s positivity palpable and believ- able. This one charms. Agent: Celeste Fine, Park, Fine & Brower. (Apr.) How to Fake It in Society KJ Charles. Bramble, $18.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-39591-7 A sudden inheritance upends an artisan’s life in this sparkling queer Regency from Charles ( All of Us Murderers ). Titus Pilcrow, maker and seller of artist paints, agrees to marry his elderly client Miss Whitecross to protect her and her fortune from her nefarious nephew. Uncertain how to handle his newfound wealth and status, Titus relies on the guidance of the surprisingly helpful Nico, Comte La Motte, who shows no ill will toward Titus despite having had his own designs on Miss Whitecross’s hand and money. Navigating the strictures of high society is made all the more complicated by the demands of those who think Titus owes them part of his good fortune, including his controlling ex-lover, Henry, and overbearing older brother. Titus deeply appreciates Nico’s aid and attempts to quash his attraction to the man, unaware that Nico shares his feelings and is starting to feel guilty about his secret scheme to ingratiate
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