The Grimoire of Grave Fates

May 1, 2023
In an intricately constructed fantasy told in 18 uniquely rendered narratives—written by 18 authors such as Kat Cho, Karuna Riazi, and Julian Winters, and edited by contributors Owen (Painted Devils) and Alkaf (Hamra and the Jungle of Memories)—students of an elite magical school must solve the murder of a bigoted teacher. The student body of Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary are stunned, though not particularly upset, by the murder of a prejudiced teacher. As the investigation into the teacher’s death unfolds, however, it becomes clear that every student at Galileo is a suspect; while Marieke Nijkamp’s nonbinary necromancer Wren was the first to discover the body, it was Jameson Brig, a Black student written by Kwame Mbalia, who accidentally alerted the administration via chaotic smoke magic. Meanwhile, Tehlor Kay Mejia’s Latinx-cued Lola Cortez endeavors to take the blame for a loved one. Despite Galileo’s mission to foster a safe space for students of all “backgrounds, cultures, temperaments, opinions, and aptitudes,” protagonists often face challenges stemming from transphobia, racism, and classism, further complicated by home life issues. The work’s contained timeline, which takes place over a single day, provides urgency to this magical mystery, and the myriad perspectives lend nuance, leading to a satisfyingly cohesive collection. Ages 12–up.

June 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 This wonderfully inclusive and ambitious anthology strings together 18 authors and POVs to solve a magical murder mystery at Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary, a Howl's Moving Castle-esque magical institution. Together, the stories tell a larger story, and seeing the students' unique magical abilities and personal struggles makes the anthology feel bigger than the sum of its parts. As they're challenged with love, belonging, and self-respect, they tackle larger societal and systemic issues, as well, such as racism, ableism, homophobia, colonialism, and class differences. The magical aptitudes vary as widely as the students, who use smoke, song, dance, and even textiles and math to channel their powers. Intriguingly, most of the characters believe they are the one prophesied to solve the case, but they function as partners rather than rivals. Each personal journey pushes the investigation forward and forces the powers that be to confront the ugly underbelly of this esteemed institution and strive to live up to the ideals it claims to embody. Highly recommended for readers who love genre blending, magic with morals, and a good whodunit.

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July 1, 2023

Gr 7 Up-Galileo Academy is a premiere magical institution that floats around the globe, introducing its students to new magics and cultures. When a teacher is murdered in the middle of the night while the school is docked in Stockholm, students and faculty find themselves under investigation. Professor Dropwort was a bigot, and he wasn't a quiet one. There are many students who had reason to hate the professor, and all of them have something to hide from the detectives, the staff, and one another. This unique short story collection gains its strength from diverse authors and multifaceted characters, with found documents adding to the worldbuilding and plot cohesion as readers try to work out who-or what-gave Professor Dropwort his just deserts. World mythologies blend into a fascinating magic system, which the authors use to their advantage as they cultivate high stakes and one-of-a-kind voices, propelling readers through a complex mystery. Some stories are stronger than others, but the consistent plotting keeps things interesting. VERDICT Exceptionally diverse and delightfully funny, this is recommended for general purchase. Hand to rising YA readers who love contemporary fantasy.-Emmy Neal

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Starred review from April 1, 2023
In a magical school packed with chosen ones, a teacher is murdered. Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary educates future Sorcerers and prides itself on its diverse student body and outreach initiatives. Or so it claims--though, for the nonlegacy students from previously underrepresented backgrounds, the reality is grim. Professor Dropwort, for example, is a transphobic, racist, sexist, ableist bigot, and nobody particularly minds when he's brutally murdered. Alas, it's predictable which demographics the school administrators treat as suspects. In skillfully interwoven chapters, each written by a different author representing a breadth of powerhouse voices, 18 young adults try to protect themselves. From the moment Marieke Nijkamp's Wren, a nonbinary, disabled necromancer who's been bullied by Dropwort, finds the body, everything changes. Most of the students believe they are required to fulfill some kind of sacred quest, from Mason Deaver's Maxwell, a trans boy who's cursed with an actual prophecy, to Kat Cho's Jia, a Korean overachiever, who needs to be the hero to feel worthy of her parents' love. But the students aren't at odds with one another, although they're all preoccupied with their own fears. Every teen is the main character of their own corner of the story, each equally responsible for pushing Galileo to live up to its principles. The many individual voices are threaded together well, leading up to a conclusion that is cohesive and actively empowering. Eighteen heroes, individual yet not alone, beautifully find self-respect and force their school to change. (Fantasy mystery. 12-18)

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