Because there's no history between him and Clara, Sang, described as tall and lean with golden-bronze skin and thick black hair, is not at risk of being a target of Clara's magic. Hart with Sang Park, an 18-year-old student in botany who's doing an advanced independent study at the school. Hart, meets an untimely end because Clara's magic goes awry. More than once, her magic has killed people she loves-first her parents, then her best friend, Nikki. While Clara's teachers believe her magic might be able to "single-handedly restore stability in the atmosphere," Clara knows it comes with "a death sentence." Her magic is too big for her to control-"it builds and builds and builds, and when the pressure is too great, it searches for another means of escape," targeting those with whom she has an emotional connection. ![]() In fact, in 11 months, when the rest of the witches flee from the forthcoming total solar eclipse, she plans to stand in the shadow of the moon and cut off her connection to the sun, which will strip her of her magic. What the administration doesn't know is that Clara has no intention of making any kind of difference. With the atmosphere collapsing and weather intensifying, the administration at her school, the Eastern School of Solar Magic, is looking to Clara "to make the difference." Evers are rare, though, and 17-year-old Clara, described as having pale skin and red hair, is the first one in more than a hundred years. Only a witch tied to all four seasons whose magic never fades, just changes-an "Everwitch"-can wield enough magic to help balance the shifting atmosphere. Now, witches are trying to use their magic to combat extreme atypical weather but are being depleted of their powers-they are forced to regularly use magic out of season (when they're at their weakest), such as winter witches fighting a substantial blizzard in spring. But over the years, the "shaders-those without magic"-have taken advantage of the witches' powers, pushing their limits and ignoring the warnings that magic isn't infinite. They have used their powers to control the atmosphere for centuries, keeping the weather in their respective seasons running smoothly. Witches are born on either the solstice or the equinox, and their powers, which come from the sun, reach full strength during their birth season. Rachel Griffin's effective use of flawed, realistic characters and nature magic that warns against the ever-evolving climate crisis is bolstered by an enthralling magic system and a swoony love interest in her YA debut, The Nature of Witches. When climate change wreaks havoc, a super-witch is tasked with saving the world at the expense of her loved ones. Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams Manansala's witty cozy mystery debut, Arsenic and Adobo (Berkeley, $16, reviewed below), follows Lila as she tries to save the restaurant after a mean-spirited food critic (who happens to be Lila's ex) dies in their dining room.Įach of these novels left me hankering to try Filipino dishes such as adobo and pancit-and dreaming of visiting the country itself one day. The setting plays a vital role as Pen, Cat and Will work through some unfinished business.Īfter a bad breakup in Chicago that also knocked her career off balance, Lila Macapagal is back working at her Tita Rosie's Filipino restaurant in small-town Illinois. But in her vivid novel Falling Together (Morrow, $15.99), three semi-estranged college friends end up in the Philippines in an attempt to heal old wounds for themselves and each other. Marisa de los Santos often sets her novels in the mid-Atlantic corridor, where she has lived for many years. ![]() Marcelo's second novel, Once Upon a Sunset (Gallery, $16), traces a family's long-hidden history from the Philippines to Washington, D.C., as successful surgeon Diana Gallagher-Cary deals with personal and professional challenges. Her first standalone novel, The Key to Happily Ever After (Gallery, $16), follows three sisters who struggle to balance job responsibilities with sibling dynamics after taking over their parents' wedding planning business. Veteran army nurse and novelist Tif Marcelo writes smart, warm-hearted fiction featuring strong, driven women, many of whom are of Filipina descent. Several novels I've read recently have piqued my curiosity about the Philippines: the country's lush vegetation, delicious food and rich culture, and the experiences of Filipino-American immigrants. ![]() To kick off Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, I've been seeking out books that highlight different AAPI cultures.
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