Court of the Undying Seasons

In this alluring queer fantasy from Strickland (In the Ravenous Dark), during a ritual called the Finding, teens randomly draw lots to be trained in vampirism by vampires from Castle Courtsheart before either being turned or subjugated, depending on their observed potential. Nineteen-year-old orphan Fin has despised vampires ever since her mother’s selection in the Finding years ago. Her lone friend and secret crush Silvea has taken care of Fin over the years, so when vampires visit their village and Silvea nearly draws the incriminating lot, Fin claims it first. Fin plans to spend her time at Courtsheart learning to kill vampires, but instead forms attachments, particularly with her brooding mentor, Gavron, and enthusiastic fellow novice Marai. When someone begins exsanguinating those around her, Fin must make a choice: continue scheming to avenge the family she lost, or embrace her new life to protect the one she’s found. Witty dialogue and arch antagonism keep the character dynamics breezy, while high-stakes action and fraught romance imbue the narrative with urgent pacing. Strickland further employs complex mythology and a bombshell-laden plot to interrogate issues of choice, consent, and identity. Fin cues as white; the supporting cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 15–up. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Lisa Dawson Assoc. (May)