Saint-Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams. Amulet Books, 2024. 9781419758669
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Historical Fantasy
What did you like about the book? Joan Sands has defeated Auberon, the dastardly fae king, but now Queen Titania poses an even bigger threat. Impersonating the Queen of England, Titania sucks Joan into the unfamiliar world of court, where she can’t fight with her metal magic granted by the orisha god Ogun or with fierce swordplay. Instead, she must navigate the dangers of politics, schemes, and manipulation. Though loath to engage in deadly dances with the ruthless secretary of state Robert Cecil and his equally despicable son, the hateful ladies of the court, or Titania herself, Joan knows she must reforge the pact between humanity and the Fae before the latter take over. And with her uncle held hostage in the Tower of London, it is going to take Joan’s courageous and clever heart to keep her family, the King’s Men, and herself safe from the danger at play.
Saint-Seducing Gold is the high-stakes, royal court-drama sequel to the swashbuckling That Self-Same Metal, where a magical Black girl must stop a supernatural takeover in Shakespearean England. The story is more focused than the first book, zeroing in on Joan’s intense moments in court with a clear goal in action. She is in a completely different world and must navigate the pompous personalities and subtle court rules, all while protecting everyone she loves from peril. Her determination and cleverness in the trickiest situations shine, leaving readers rooting for her. All characters return, further developing their growth and personalities, whether in polyamorous love interests of Nick and Rose, in the awful human beings like Robert and William, or in the historical characters like Shakespeare or King James I. The worldbuilding has expanded yet tightened up the story, with concise explanations of the fae and orisha magic that don’t distract the reader. The book is also shorter than the first, being a lighter read (both in terms of length and tone) than many YA fantasy books. Overall, a fantastic sequel that has greatly improved on the first novel. Readers will be eagerly awaiting for Joan’s next move.
Anything you didn’t like about it? Nothing! It’s a solid improvement from the first book.
To whom would you recommend this book? Teens who like historical fantasy, especially set in England, fae/faerie trouble, court drama, and Shakespeare seen in a fun light. Jackaby by William Rittner, Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland, and The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi.
Who should buy this book? High schools and public libraries.
Where would you shelve it? YA Fiction, YA History, or YA Fantasy
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Close
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Laila Carter, Cheltenham Township Library System, Glenside, PA
Date of review: June 26, 2024
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