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hales_1243's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Car accident, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Classism, Alcohol, and Violence
zimmermanrl15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved Ivelisse's ability to create an autistic character without using the word autism. The signs were so subtle, but very obvious to someone who knows a decent bit about autism. I'd really love to see more disability representation written by authors who have said disabilities going forward! I think its the best way to ensure the disabilities aren't being misrepresented.
I've been impatiently waiting for the sequel to this book because I just need to know what's going to happening to our cast of characters. I just need to know what happens with the dragon, Leira, and Gossamer! Also the fact that Isolde is also a changeling!! That was such an amazing twist and I just need to know how its going to play out in the next book!
Ivelisse has become an auto buy author for me. This book was such a lovely read that kept me up late at night and pulling a "Just one more chapter" moment over and over again.
I've been impatiently waiting for the sequel to this book because I just need to know what's going to happening to our cast of characters.
Ivelisse has become an auto buy author for me. This book was such a lovely read that kept me up late at night and pulling a "Just one more chapter" moment over and over again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Child abuse
imbored_soillread's review against another edition
I simply got bored and couldn’t make myself finish. I was annoyed with the characters and I should have tried to imagine them differently from the beginning because I couldn’t get passed my own initial annoyances to them. Not for me, but likely for you if you like mainstream ya fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
christineolivia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Ableism
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Violence, Ableism, Death, and Child abuse
starrysteph's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The start to the Unseelie Duology was fresh, magical, and engaging.
We’re following adventurer sisters Iselia (Seelie) and Isolde. They’re twins - sort of. Seelie is an autistic changeling, struggling to control her wild magic, feeling out of place among humans, and wishing for a peaceful family life.
After a disastrous incident in their hometown, the girls are on the run. Isolde is a skilled thief and Seelie supports her sister and helps power their magical wagon. But when a heist goes wrong, they find themselves paired up with unlikely allies as they hunt for a mysterious (and valuable) treasure.
While the plot is entertaining and the slow-burn romance is sweet, it’s the autistic representation (and the switch-up of changeling lore) that makes Unseelie shine. We get to hear Seelie’s story entirely from Seelie’s perspective and with Seelie’s voice. She is centered.
I found all four of our main treasure-hunters engaging and charming. The story and many of the tropes felt familiar, but Seelie’s perspective was so fresh that it kept me interested in the world. I’d love to see more development for the other three in book 2 (and wish we had gotten a bit more in depth characterization here), but I thought they were all likable.
I was hungering for a faster pace & will be looking forward to the second half of the duology to explode right into action. The writing overall was simple yet well done. It’s generic in some ways - but absolutely stellar in others.
I’ll be recommending this to YA readers far and wide. :)
CW: death, violence, blood, fire, drowning, injury, ableism & eugenics, hate crime, vomiting, panic attacks, kidnapping, child abuse (mentioned), confinement
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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Ableism, Vomit, Child abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Confinement
andloveistoolong's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Hate crime, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Unseelie is a dreamy and utterly enchanting YA fantasy that explores the themes of self discovery, sisterhood and found family in such a breathtakingly compelling fashion—examining faerie lore through a unique lens and treating us to an exquisite, action packed and thoroughly moving adventure I didn’t want to put down!
With wicked fae, shape shifting love interests and a cat shaped brownie I absolutely adored—not to mention a brave and compelling autistic protagonist in Seelie, YA fantasy fans definitely need to add this to your TBRs ASAP!
Written in the first person, Unseelie follows autistic changeling, Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove and her twin sister, Isolde as they stumble their way through realms (both human and fae) and a whole heap of trouble when a lucrative heist goes terribly wrong. I loved the dreamy, fairytale-esque quality to Ivelisse Houseman’s writing and the incredible detail that’s captured in the world building. Not to mention there’s dragons! From cute little pet dragons to guard dragons and firedrakes—I loved them all.
However, I think I loved the development and unique perspective of protagonist, Seelie the most. Given the complexity of her character as she struggles to accept her differences and fit in the the world (and people) around her.
As Houseman explains in her authors’ note at the start of her book, the lore surrounding changelings is theorised to be early explanation for autistic children—which really brings a level of insight & depth to Seelie’s character which I loved.
I really enjoyed delving into Seelie’s thought processes and emotions as she tries to conform to the “normal”societal norms and expectations everyone has of her. Getting to experience just how uncomfortable and overwhelming situations can be for her (and Houseman, who drew from her own experiences with autism) was both incredibly eye opening and utterly endearing.
The pacing is also a little slower as a result, but I really enjoyed the moments of reflection and processing of feelings/ emotions from Seelie’s POV—it’s not something we often get to experience first hand with a character and I genuinely really appreciated it.
The other characters were also quite interesting if not nearly as in depth as Seelie. I liked several of the supporting characters, especially Isolde (Seelie’s twin), Olani (an adventurer verse in healing magic) and Raze (Seelie’s shapeshifting and smooth talking love interest) and really enjoyed the banter, snarky dialogue and all around bond of friendship that we see grow between this rag-tag group—I definitely hope to see even more shenanigans in the sequel.
Overall, this was a really fun, magical and utterly insightful read full of incredible autism/ neurodivergent rep that fans of YA fantasy, the found family trope and Holly Black should definitely check out!
Also a huge thank you to Harper360ya/Inkyard Press for the arc.
With wicked fae, shape shifting love interests and a cat shaped brownie I absolutely adored—not to mention a brave and compelling autistic protagonist in Seelie, YA fantasy fans definitely need to add this to your TBRs ASAP!
Written in the first person, Unseelie follows autistic changeling, Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove and her twin sister, Isolde as they stumble their way through realms (both human and fae) and a whole heap of trouble when a lucrative heist goes terribly wrong. I loved the dreamy, fairytale-esque quality to Ivelisse Houseman’s writing and the incredible detail that’s captured in the world building. Not to mention there’s dragons! From cute little pet dragons to guard dragons and firedrakes—I loved them all.
However, I think I loved the development and unique perspective of protagonist, Seelie the most. Given the complexity of her character as she struggles to accept her differences and fit in the the world (and people) around her.
As Houseman explains in her authors’ note at the start of her book, the lore surrounding changelings is theorised to be early explanation for autistic children—which really brings a level of insight & depth to Seelie’s character which I loved.
I really enjoyed delving into Seelie’s thought processes and emotions as she tries to conform to the “normal”societal norms and expectations everyone has of her. Getting to experience just how uncomfortable and overwhelming situations can be for her (and Houseman, who drew from her own experiences with autism) was both incredibly eye opening and utterly endearing.
The pacing is also a little slower as a result, but I really enjoyed the moments of reflection and processing of feelings/ emotions from Seelie’s POV—it’s not something we often get to experience first hand with a character and I genuinely really appreciated it.
The other characters were also quite interesting if not nearly as in depth as Seelie. I liked several of the supporting characters, especially Isolde (Seelie’s twin), Olani (an adventurer verse in healing magic) and Raze (Seelie’s shapeshifting and smooth talking love interest) and really enjoyed the banter, snarky dialogue and all around bond of friendship that we see grow between this rag-tag group—I definitely hope to see even more shenanigans in the sequel.
Overall, this was a really fun, magical and utterly insightful read full of incredible autism/ neurodivergent rep that fans of YA fantasy, the found family trope and Holly Black should definitely check out!
Also a huge thank you to Harper360ya/Inkyard Press for the arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Death and Child abuse