Ashley Poston, acclaimed author of  Heart of Iron , returns with a dark, lush fairy tale–inspired fantasy for fans of Sara Raasch and Susan Dennard. Cerys is safe in the Kingdom of Aloriya. Here there are no droughts, disease, or famine, and peace is everlasting. It has been this way for hundreds of years, since the first king made a bargain with the Lady who ruled the forest that borders the kingdom. But as Aloriya prospered, the woods grew dark, cursed, and forbidden. Cerys knows this all too well: When she was young, she barely escaped as the woods killed her friends and her mother. Now Cerys carries a small bit of the curse—the magic—in her blood, a reminder of the day she lost everything. As a new queen is crowned, however, things long hidden in the woods descend on the kingdom itself. Cerys is forced on the run, her only companions a small and irritating fox from the royal garden and the magic in her veins. It’s up to her to find the legendary Lady of the Wilds and beg for a way to save her home. But the road is darker and more dangerous than she knows, and as secrets from the past are uncovered amid the teeth and roots of the forest, it’s going to take everything she has just to survive. Gr 7 Up-Poston's quiet writing style gives life to an original, spine-tingling fairy tale perfect for middle schoolers who are venturing into the world of YA. The country of Aloriya tells a story about the king's magical crown: a gift from the Lady of the Wilds in the magical city of Voryn to the first king, as eternal protection from the Woods. That story is a lie. Cerys's blood can bring forests to life-a curse leftover from her trip into the Woods, when she and the Princess Anwen were the only survivors. When Anwen's coronation is interrupted by a woodcursed stranger and bone-eaters who are after the crown, Cerys takes it and runs for the Wildwood. With Fox and their new friend Bear to help evade their new enemies, Cerys makes for Voryn. Poston cut her teeth on retellings; this is her first original fairy tale, and it's the perfect balance of heartwarming adventure and creepy monsters. There are unanswered questions that keep the story from being entirely satisfying, but open up the possibility for more original fairy tales. The casual assumption of bisexuality lends the impression that queer relationships are the norm in this world. The majority of the cast is white-Cerys is pale with freckles, Anwen has blonde hair and blue eyes-but there is mention of darker skin tones among peripheral characters. VERDICT Naomi Novik's Uprooted for a younger audience, Poston has written a soft, romantic standalone that should be considered an additional purchase for libraries where fantasy is popular.-Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Praise for HEART OF IRON: “The perfect blend of action, romance, technological futurism, sci-fi, and fantasy, this intergalactic drama demands attention and rewards its readers.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) Praise for HEART OF IRON: “ Heart of Iron left the perfume of moonlilies in the air and the grit of rust on my fingertips, with characters that made my heart swell one line and break the next. Tangled politics, electrifying twists, and heady romances―the stars align in Poston’s faster-than-light sci-fi adventure. A delicious, absorbing book.” - Sara Raasch New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes trilogy Praise for HEART OF IRON: “With sharply drawn characters, a relentless plot, and an utterly spellbinding world, Heart of Iron is a must-read for sci-fi fans.” - C J Redwine New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen Praise for HEART OF IRON: “Poston delivers a delightful cast and non-stop thrills in this lightspeed space adventure. The pages flew by, and I couldn’t put it down.” - Victoria Schwab 1 New York Times bestselling author of This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet Praise for HEART OF IRON: “A great choice for fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen trilogy and for young readers looking for a hint of Game of Thrones.” - School Library Journal " Among the Beasts and Briars is an utterly enchanting read, brimming with wild magic, whimsy, and heart. I adored every page."  - Margaret Rogerson, New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns "A deliciously dark coming-of-age fairy tale brimming with magic, monsters, and hope." - Kirkus Reviews "Poston presents a true fairy tale, with transformations, unlikely love, and magical artifacts that are not what they seem. The pacing never lags, and readers will find themselves catching their breath as events escalate." - ALA Booklist "Poston has created a fairy tale that blooms like a rose with soft petals, sharp thorns, and an intoxicating perfume that draws you close. Char