The Second Bell

Houston’s sparkling debut invites readers to a mountain village where mothers of two-hearted striga children can eke out an existence, having been banished from Heyne Town for fear of the shadowy magic their children bear. Nineteen years after Salka’s mother was exiled for giving birth to her, Salka and her friend Emila are led astray by Dran, the son of the striga village’s leader, as he persuades the young women to join him on a forbidden foray into Heyne Town. Dran’s mother is convinced that the transgression is Salka’s fault and banishes her to a remote hut for three months. Since childhood, Salka has been taught to restrain her second heart’s power lest it turn her into a monstrous stigoi, but, as winter sets in, she has no choice but to rely upon it to keep herself alive—and, in doing so, she learns the truth of her powers. By going small, rather than epic, in scale, Houston is able to mark the significance of daily events, highlight her characters, and comment on humanity’s capacity for othering. This intimate fantasy offers a heartfelt reflection on what it means to be human that is sure to please. (Mar.)