cover image The Dolls

The Dolls

Kiki Sullivan. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $9.99 trade paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-228148-7

Eveny Cheval has traded her beloved Brooklyn for the remote bayou town of Carrefour, La., her family’s longtime home and the place where her mother committed suicide. She soon meets the Dolls, mysterious, model-gorgeous teenagers (one of whom carries a slithering snake with her at all times) who rule Carrefour. The Dolls pull Eveny into their elite group, and it isn’t long before she learns that they’re all about voodoo, and that she’s the most powerful voodoo queen in town, thanks to her mother. The magic-induced makeover is a bonus (that’s how the Dolls get their amazing looks), though the bodily possessions are a little off-putting; the real downside, however, involves being hunted down by a centuries-old organization determined to kill them. First-time author Sullivan’s Dolls call to mind the Cullen clan, and the setting has echoes of the Beautiful Creatures books. But while the setup and gothic Southern atmosphere are familiar, Sullivan’s talent for moving the action forward makes for a breezy, engaging read. Ages 13–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Sept.)