Yami likes how outspoken and confident Bo is, but she’s also intimidated by her new friend’s being an out lesbian. She also meets Bo, a Chinese American girl who has chosen the school uniform’s trousers over skirts-paired with rainbow Vans, no less-and they immediately get along. In her new, wealthy, and mostly White school, Yami immediately faces casual racism, but it’s not all bad. She loves her busy, hardworking, very Catholic mom, but that doesn’t mean Mami would accept her sexuality if she knew the truth. It’s not easy for Yami to lose someone she trusted as much as Bianca, especially when she feels alone and is still nursing the heartbreak of her dad’s being deported to Mexico 6 years ago. She’s also glad to start over away from ex–best friend Bianca, who outed her to their social circle. She tells herself it has more to do with being there for Cesar, her genius brother one year her junior who skipped a grade and earned a scholarship, but there’s more to it. Yamilet is a gay, Mexican American 16-year-old who’s about to start Catholic school. You’ll never see the Regency the same way again. The slow burn, punctuated by murder, forbidden declarations of love, and surprising plot twists, provides readers who have come this far with exactly what they want the explosions, literal and figurative, of the climax even leave room for a happy ending that also involves the wielding of great power while being female. Goodman’s assured writing and masterful grasp of historical milieu create a world where doing one’s hair can take hours-and is done even when the end of the world is at stake. The previously introduced characters are all back, from Maori Quinn (one of the few characters who provides diversity in the white, wealthy world of Regency high society) to Aunt Leonore, who demonstrates that women can be powerful regardless of magical gifts. As with the previous volumes, this carefully researched tome mixes a cerebral examination of gendered roles in the Regency (and perhaps today) with an original fantasy premise. But Helen’s impending marriage to Duke Selburn, who cherishes Helen and wishes to protect her, provides impediment after impediment to Reclaimer business. Lady Helen’s adventures continue in the conclusion of Goodman’s ( The Dark Days Pact, 2017, etc.) trilogy.Ĭhristmas in Bath: Lady Helen and the brooding Lord Carlston are now the Grand Reclaimer dyad seeking the Grand Deceiver.

The Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman