Unbound

Healy debuts with a swashbuckling if somewhat overloaded adventure inspired by Irish mythology. Princess Rozlyn comes of age while locked in a tower because, she is told, her magic attracts a beast that ravages the countryside. She cannot leave until she finds a man to marry her and break the curse. After rebuffing all other suitors, she agrees to marry strapping Jamie—only for him to turn around and try to kill her. Ten years later, Rozlyn is a powerful queen with a much better grip on her magic when Jamie returns to the castle, pleading with her to go north with him and awaken the old gods to stop the spread of evil beasts and spirits through the world. Toggling between timelines, Healy reveals the extent of Rozlyn’s powers, the nature of the beast they supposedly summon, Jamie’s true intentions, and the history of the old gods, who have been asleep for centuries. The worldbuilding is fun and the tense, charged relationship between Jamie and Rozlyn keeps the pages turning, though Rozlyn’s intransigence starts to feel forced as the pair journey north. Still, Healy should win some fans with this one. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Jan.)