Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2025: Teen Fiction
"This immersive, plot-driven story takes place in a racially diverse world with queer representation that evokes 1920s New Orleans with a creative magic system and some well-executed twists."
–Kirkus Reviews
"[I]n this mesmerizing historical fantasy novel[, ] [...] Muhammad leverages the protagonists' parallel experiences with paranormal persecution to deliver a tense, high-stakes-conflict-driven narrative that explores themes of love, betrayal, and fate."
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Publishers Weekly "The ethical toll of vengeance is explored [...] and Jack will delight true fans of horror with vividly described bloody, gore-filled scenes [...]. [An] excellent take on Black girl horror."
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The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[In this] beguiling paranormal revenge thriller[, ] [...] Qurratulayn effortlessly draws real-world parallels by threading in themes of oppression, class struggle, and prejudice."
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Shelf Awareness "A teen makes a deal with the devil to get revenge after being left for dead as part of a sacrificial ritual in this dark but extremely unique historical fantasy."
–Paste Magazine "Charismatic yet terrifying devils, unexpected romances, and simmering class tensions made it impossible to put this book down. A sparkling debut that will appeal to both horror and fantasy readers. Qurratulayn's words are magic!"
–Catherine Yu, author of
The Devil's in the Dancers