Fred Gracely
standalone adventure
Ages 13+
Young Adult
fantasy - romance - adventure
Coming November 15th, 2026
Haunted by strange magic, a fiery girl flees to a perfect home where she unearths secrets too dangerous to stay buried.
Available for $.99
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About the book​
Willow has never been a “normal” girl. She’s complicated. Snarky. Odd. Inexplicable things happen around her. And, on the morning of her sixteenth birthday, one year after her mother died, her concealed magical nature awakens. Nothing will ever feel normal again.
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Fleeing mysterious assassins, she steals a train ticket from a dead man, travels to a mystical place that isn’t on any map, and lies her way into a life she never dreamed possible. It has everything missing from the bleak, dystopian world she left behind: a community welcoming her without hesitation, fireflies drifting over moonlit orchards, strange creatures and magic. Friendship. Romance. Purpose.
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But she wasn’t invited, and she never would have been. She isn’t who she thinks she is.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Gracely's spellbinding coming-of-age tale plays well against an intricately imagined backdrop of fantastical landscapes…expertly executed plot keeps the pages turning…A fantastical tale of growing up and finding oneself amid magic and wonder."
âš¡ BookLife Editor's Pick, Publishers Weekly âš¡
"Gracely's hopeful, standout dystopian fantasy imbues familiar elements of YA fantasy with fresh and fun ideas, cleverly binding together science and magic…classic coming-of-age material, including a dance, a potential romance, training, and cool new friends…will delight readers of YA fantasy...”
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"An imaginative exploration of identity, belonging, and personal transformation... combining the excitement of an extraordinary adventure with the emotional struggles of an ordinary teenager searching for connection and purpose… a thoughtful, inventive adventure that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-centered fantasy and speculative fiction.” —LiteraryTitans, Gold Medal
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"...fast-moving, intelligent story about belonging, love, and sacrifice… an entertaining, fun read that is also deeply unsettling…" —S. Mathur, Readers' Favorite ★★★★★
“An incredible young adult fantasy… Beautifully written and bold… The world-building is beautifully imagined… Readers who enjoy fantasy set inside secret communities will adore this.” —Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
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“…magic, mystery, danger, and some really unusual ideas…a very imaginative and entertaining fantasy adventure with a strong coming-of-age story at its heart.” —Miche Arendse, Readers' Favorite ★★★★★
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“An incredible story of survival and resilience. I was hooked from the very first chapter and did not put it down until I finished it… a great story for anyone who loves YA novels with a strong protagonist who doesn’t quit.”
—Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite, ★★★★★
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“Fantastic!… It has been a while since I enjoyed a YA novel this much. The storyline was immersive, the characters kept me emotionally invested, and I found it genuinely difficult to put the book down.”
—Tammy Staley, Author & ARC Reader
