Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu

May 1, 2023
Student mage Kelcie's second year at the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts proves eventful as the Never-Ending War between the Lands of Summer and Winter escalates. Expanding the already unwieldy cast of her magic-school story with the introduction of a second lead, Lewis sends 12-year-old Lexis, who's at the head of her fianna (a closely bound team of schoolmates), into Summer to steal Danu's Heart, a powerful artifact. The Queen of Winter assures her it will at last bring an end to the war. But while masquerading as a new student at Summer's Academy and joining Kelcie and her fianna in martial training, Lexis' conscience (as well as her dedication to her mission) is seriously challenged by claims that the artifact's theft would actually destroy Summer utterly. Meanwhile, amid portents of impending doom, including a visit from her terrifying war goddess mother, Nemain, and hints of a Winter spy in the school, Kelcie's relationship with best friend Prince Niall evolves into something more. The author keeps her tale rolling with hard-fought battles and breathless escapades plus a crowd-pleasing array of foes, many drawn from Celtic mythology. Though Kelcie and Lexis have different personal issues to wrestle with, along with being equally matched in the magic and fighting skills departments, by the end they look to be not rivals but allies in future episodes. The cast includes fantasy race diversity; Niall was born with one hand. An engaging medley of new relationships and hot battlefield action. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-12)

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June 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 This sequel follows the titular protagonist as she embarks on another action-packed adventure that's filled to the brim with Celtic magic and mythology and strong, determined heroines from the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. This fresh take on the magical-school trope brings heightened stakes and compelling friendships to the page as Kelcie--whose family history (which includes a deity and a traitor) has brought many challenges upon her--must stop the thievery of the Heart of Danu, an essential part of the Lands of Summer, before it thrusts the land and its people into suffering, cold, and darkness. Collaborating with changelings and defending the school from giants, Kelcie and her friends must navigate the social and cultural requirements of the Land of Summers' Ascension Ceremony, all while trying to keep everyone--and especially the Heart--safe. This exciting adventure, steeped in Celtic folklore, sees Kelcie grow and transform as a warrior and individual, as many suspect her capable of stealing the Heart and destroying the semblance of peace, even though she is doing her utmost to protect it.

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