"Exceptional worldbuilding, emotionally charged prose, and an intricately layered, delightfully disorienting mystery foster sustained engagement. The resultant offering culminates in a nail-biting introduction to a promising new talent."
Description
For the first printing only! This hardcover features sprayed stenciled edges while the special edition supply lasts.
“Fans of Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn Cycle will devour” (School Library Journal, starred review) this captivating contemporary fantasy debut about a teen whose newly awakened magical abilities send her searching for answers at an elite boarding school that has a mysterious connection to her family’s history.
Harper grew up loving her grandma Gigi’s stories about pretty brown girls with magic from the stars, but they were just that—stories…until Gigi’s sudden death awakens a dangerous power building beneath Harper’s skin. Desperate for answers, Harper finds herself drawn to an elite boarding school in the Appalachian Mountains.
A school that Gigi herself attended, and one rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of witches past.
Harper arrives at Black Mountain Academy determined to learn about her burgeoning power, even if that means dealing with Kai, her grumpy ex-best friend now hellbent on getting her to leave campus, and his cousin, Lucas, who won’t let her forget the almost-kiss from last summer. But Black Mountain Academy was built on secrets, and the deeper Harper digs, the more sinister rot she finds lurking beneath.
When Harper unearths a chilling local legend about the gruesome deaths of twelve witches on campus, she feels an uncanny connection to the women. But someone doesn’t want her exposing the school’s dark past, and when it becomes clear they’ll kill to stop her, Harper has to decide whether to leave her history behind or risk everything for the truth of her own identity.
Reviews
"A haunting fantasy for readers who enjoy dark academia stories with elements of Southern Gothic horror and compelling emotional journeys."
"The ferocity of Harper’s narration makes for an unputdownable read. Debut author Monét’s series opener handles race and place with raw honesty, grounding Harper’s magical awakening in the realities of being a Black girl... [T]he astrology-infused worldbuilding and layered generational dynamics add genuine specificity. Confident and evocative."
“Noelle Monet’s Bound By Fury is a glorious quilt of ancestral magic, southern gothic folklore, and dark academia. A spellbinding debut filled with heart.”
