Brittle

A promising opening gives way to a predictable plot in the underwhelming portal fantasy that opens the Blade and Bone series from Overmyer (the Goblets Immortal series). Verity “Verve” Springer, 22, receives a cryptic letter from her estranged father claiming that the fae folk are real—and dangerous—and informing her of a mysterious knife called the Cunning Blade that alone has the ability to kill the fae. Soon thereafter, her father is murdered and Verve finds the body—but it disappears before she can show authorities. Meanwhile, Verve becomes suspicious that her new neighbor, Dacre, is fae himself—a hunch that is confirmed when he kidnaps her and takes her to Letorheas, the land of the fairies. Dacre, a lord, wants the Cunning Blade—and also plans to transform Verve into a fairy herself, a process that would leave her under his control. As Verve navigates this realm of magic and secrets, she learns of an ancient fae prophecy with herself at its center. Unfortunately, her unrelenting stubbornness and petulance throughout leaves her feeling two-dimensional and immature as a character. Meanwhile, the flimsy worldbuilding raises more questions than it answers. Readers drawn in by the premise will hope for more substance in later installments. (Aug.)