Sibylline by Melissa De La Cruz

 

 

Raven, Atticus, and Dorian have dreamed of attending Sibylline for as long as they can remember. But when the magical university rejects them, the friends’ plans for a future studying the arcane together begin crashing down.

Until they decide to steal an education.

Getting jobs on campus, they sneak into lectures and swipe forbidden texts, dodging the administration’s watchful eye. In the quiet of night, in the thrill of secrecy, their magic awakens. And so do long-buried attractions that turn their friendship into something more.

But like magic, love can create, and it can destroy. As unrequited feelings and resentment threaten to fracture their bond, the trio discovers an insidious magic that has sunk its claws into Sibylline, killing students and corroding the very bones of the university. Now the three intruders may be the key to saving the institution from wreckage . . . if they don’t wreck one another first.- Penguin Random House

 

I stumbled upon a bonkers tweet about Sibylline by Melissa De La Cruz that me racing to the mall to grab a copy and see if it was true.  I want to avoid spoilers for those who haven’t read it, so I’ll delve into that further down in the post.

Three eighteen-year-old friends: Raven, Atticus and Dorian and devastated when they don’t get accepted to the prestigious Sibylline college for magic.  So, they decide infiltrate the college by taking jobs on campus.  They quickly discover that Sibylline holds some dark secrets.  The trio is also faced with their growing feelings for each other that may be more than friendship. 

I have been a fan of Melissa’s books for years both her previous YA work on the vampire series Blue Blood series, her adult series The Witches of East End and its YA spinoff, Summer on East End along with her contemporary YA series The AuPairs.  To me her strength in all those series was a great mix of characters and soapy plots mixed with some magic and fantasy and Sibylline is another example of what I’ve enjoyed about Melissa’s previous work and easily recommended her books to others when working at Borders back in the day.  Sibylline has an ending that is open for interpretation and sets up for sequel(s).  I hope there is more to come from the folks at Sibylline as at times I needed a little more depth into the how this magical world worked and I’m curious to see what happens next.

I believe I would be remiss in my review if I didn’t mention Chapter 41.  If you google Sibylline by Melissa Delacruz and Chapter 41 you will see it is the subject of some discourse as to if its content is appropriate in a YA novel marketed to teenagers.   

 

***** SPOILER AHEAD ******  DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO AVOID A SPOILER ****  

 

The tweet I read alleged that this book contained a “graphic” scene in which teenagers engage in a threesome with a dead body and thru sexual activity bring the body back to life.  This is indeed essentially Chapter 41.  I believe the use of the word graphic is open to interpretation but there is also questionable consent issues here.  Chapter 41 is only a page and half long in the hardcover print copy that I had.  I read a lot of wild stuff when I was a teenager (ex: Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews, The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer by Jennifer Lynch) and I could easily separate fact from fiction and moral appropriateness.  However, I don’t have children so I won’t presume to tell anyone how to parent, but I believe this book is best for older teens or literal young adults, the tone of this whole book really seemed a better fit for burgeoning New Adult sub-genre of YA or if not NA then actually geared for an adult audience like The Magicians series by Lev Grossman.

I purchased my copy at Target and you can find yours at your favorite local bookshop, online book retailer or library. 

 

 

Missing by E.A. Jackson (pub date 03/17/26)

 

In August 1990, London is suffering through an unprecedented heatwave when baby Bella Carpenter is snatched through the open window of her hotel room. Detective Inspector Martha Allen is assigned the high-profile case and, knowing that it could make or break her career, is determined to find Bella.

When a young woman named Nell Beatty walks into the police station with a baby who appears to be Bella, and whom Nell claims she found on a bench, it seems that the mystery is solved. Her family, the police, and the press are overjoyed at her return. But DI Allen isn’t convinced, something about Nell’s story doesn’t ring true. As much as she wants to continue, however, now that the baby is safe, she’s ordered to close the investigation.

Thirty years later, Nell Beatty is found dead. Now a superintendent, Allen has never really gotten over her doubts about the Carpenter case and can’t resist doing a little digging on her own time, eager to find out what happened to Nell, and her involvement in the baby’s disappearance all those years ago. But will her efforts uncover something darker than she could have ever imagined? And what is she risking as she tries once and for all to reveal the truth? - Simon & Schuster

This was an engrossing and layered crime thriller.  I normally breeze through books in just a few days but this one took me over a week to finish and that’s not a complaint, there was just so much detail.  We meet Detective Inspector Martha Allen in the first half of the novel in the summer of 1990 as she is called to investigate the sudden disappearance of baby Bella from her parent’s hotel room.  As one of the few women rising the ranks in policing at the time, she faces pressure from all sides and is struggling to balance her family life with her career aspirations.   When a woman named Nell Beatty returns baby Bella to the police station after finding her in a local park, it seems like this case has come to a happy conclusion.  Only DI Allen has her doubts that something just isn’t right.  Flash forward 30 years to 2020, Nell is found dead and DI (now Superintendent) Allen finally gets the chance to pursue those loose ends. 

What I loved about this book is just how deep and developed the characters were.  Despite the flash forward of 30 years, the reader really gets to know DI Allen as a person and how her work has impacted her whole life.  The settings were richly described.  I could feel the oppressiveness of the 90’s summer heatwave through the pages.  This novel is also set in London so it was interesting to see how police work is done in the UK vs the US as well as how crime solving technology has advanced over the past 30 years in both positive and negative ways.  This book also kept me guessing which I always love.  I don’t appreciate it when it’s too easy to solve the caper. 

I highly recommend Missing by E.A. Jackson to anyone who loves Crime Thrillers and strong female leads. 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster/Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Missing releases 03/17/26 but you can pre-order now at your local book store or click the publisher's link above. 

 

 

Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon (pub date 03/10/26)

 

Eva is just 18 years old and interning at a record label when she discovers 16 year old Alora online. Never has she heard a voice like Alora’s and when it’s clear there isn’t anyone at the label interested in hearing this phenomenal talent, Eva takes matters into her own hands. On a whim, Eva offers Alora representation as her manager without knowing the first thing about artist management or what’s about to happen to both of them.

And it turns out Eva was right... Alora is swiftly catapulted into the spotlight of major superstardom, and as the two navigate the whirling vortex of fame—the parties, the money, the paparazzi, and power—they form a deep bond, becoming found family for one another.

But when Alora’s dark and mysterious past begins to infiltrate her present and Eva’s ambition and success blind her to the obvious signs that her client and, most importantly, her friend is in trouble, their lives unravel with disastrous consequences.

DARKENING SONG is a story about friendship and betrayal. It’s a love story, and a story about growing up in an industry which sometimes disregards the needs of young girls and women in favor of self-interest. But more than anything, it’s a story about redemption, and the ways that hopes and dreams can come true in ways we least expect.  - publisher's website

 

Did you ever read a book that continues to haunt you and invade your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page?  For me that book is Darkening Song and no it’s not a horror novel in the traditional sense, but it does revolve around the horrors that can come with the high price of fame.  It’s told in dual POVs from Alora and her young manager, Eva providing a rich description of their blossoming friendship and how both the artist and representation side of the music business are affected by sudden fame, executives and all that comes with it.  It was also a real eye opener for me on fully formed consent and had me thinking about the recent litigation between a singular named pop star and her former producer.  Darkening Song also contains lyrics of Alora’s songs and despite some dark subject matter, it’s a beautifully written novel that I highly recommend. 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books and Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon officially releases on Tuesday March 10, 2026 but you can pre-order your copy now or pick it up at your local bookstore on release day!  For more information, visit the publisher's website linked above.