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Gustborn
Since her adventure away, Princess Cerys Goldbriar has been swamped with royal responsibilities. But when her coronation is crashed by a mysterious and powerful queen claiming to be from the undiscovered Kingdom of the West, Cerys and her friends disembark from the Northern Isles to break yet another curse.
While Cerys fights an inner—and outer—battle, Andromeda comes face to face again with the so-called “beast.” He believes that she is the fabled Found Rose who can save him, yet she is not so sure she believes in fairy tales. Whether he is friend or foe, only time will tell, and time is running out for both his curse and Cerys’. This time, it’s not only a battle of magic; it’s a battle of wits and self.
Return to a world of fairy tales, Greek myths, and modern tech, this time with elements of Alice In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. Filled with danger, magic, found family, and slow burn romance, Gustborn twists the plot until you’re questioning everyone—possibly even yourself.
Welcome back—adventure awaits, and it won’t wait long!
While Cerys fights an inner—and outer—battle, Andromeda comes face to face again with the so-called “beast.” He believes that she is the fabled Found Rose who can save him, yet she is not so sure she believes in fairy tales. Whether he is friend or foe, only time will tell, and time is running out for both his curse and Cerys’. This time, it’s not only a battle of magic; it’s a battle of wits and self.
Return to a world of fairy tales, Greek myths, and modern tech, this time with elements of Alice In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. Filled with danger, magic, found family, and slow burn romance, Gustborn twists the plot until you’re questioning everyone—possibly even yourself.
Welcome back—adventure awaits, and it won’t wait long!
Paperback
Published October 17, 2025
23 people want to read
About the author
Mae McKoy
2 books23 followersMae McKoy is the teenage author of Storylore and has been writing whimsical, fantastical tales since she was six years old. She loves reading and writing YA and Middle Grade Fantasy with her cat and a cup of coffee, and she hopes her stories inspire courage and hope in readers’ hearts. When she’s not on adventures across the country, she’s busy creating art, music, handcrafts, plays, and novels in Georgia. You can connect with her on Instagram @mae.mckoy.author and at local festivals and events.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 25, 2025
I was very lucky to be picked up as an arc reader for this novel, in exchanged for an honest review and after having loved the first one so much I was really hyped for this.
I have to say this book didn't disappoint, it was a fantastic read, I truly loved it and I can't wait for everyone to read it on the 18th. This is a very eerie, whimsical fantasy novel, full of fairytales retellings, mythology, magic and fun adventures.
I really liked how unique and magical this novel feels and how well the story is crafted to serve as a follow up and still add a lot of new plot lines and new faces in the game. Yet we follow some characters from the first novel and we see their interactions with the new ones which is fantastic and one of my favorite things about the book.
I had a great time reading Gustborn and I didn't see any of the twists coming, this book is full of twists, no joking is twist upon twist. The ending is great and just leaves you wanting more.
I absolutely adored every character in the novel, they all have their own arcs and are important for the main plot. The novel is structured in three parts and with two main points of view which make the book richer and make the intrigue last longer.
This novel comparing it to the first one in the series I would say it's more of a slow burn, but not slow or boring by any means. It's a clean YA novel, that will appeal to everyone who loves fantasy, retellings, fairytales, mythology and the found family trope.
I love the new magical elements introduced in this story and all the new places they visit to solve the little mysteries.
Gustborn is written with great care and the author really knows what we fantasy readers what to see in our books. As in Storylore this sequel has a map in it that looks very cool and a pronunciation and places guide, which is just perfect.
Be prepared to immerse yourself into this amazing YA fantasy novel on November 18th because this one is a must read.
I have to say this book didn't disappoint, it was a fantastic read, I truly loved it and I can't wait for everyone to read it on the 18th. This is a very eerie, whimsical fantasy novel, full of fairytales retellings, mythology, magic and fun adventures.
I really liked how unique and magical this novel feels and how well the story is crafted to serve as a follow up and still add a lot of new plot lines and new faces in the game. Yet we follow some characters from the first novel and we see their interactions with the new ones which is fantastic and one of my favorite things about the book.
I had a great time reading Gustborn and I didn't see any of the twists coming, this book is full of twists, no joking is twist upon twist. The ending is great and just leaves you wanting more.
I absolutely adored every character in the novel, they all have their own arcs and are important for the main plot. The novel is structured in three parts and with two main points of view which make the book richer and make the intrigue last longer.
This novel comparing it to the first one in the series I would say it's more of a slow burn, but not slow or boring by any means. It's a clean YA novel, that will appeal to everyone who loves fantasy, retellings, fairytales, mythology and the found family trope.
I love the new magical elements introduced in this story and all the new places they visit to solve the little mysteries.
Gustborn is written with great care and the author really knows what we fantasy readers what to see in our books. As in Storylore this sequel has a map in it that looks very cool and a pronunciation and places guide, which is just perfect.
Be prepared to immerse yourself into this amazing YA fantasy novel on November 18th because this one is a must read.
December 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨
A perfect YA adventure for any reader who loves fairytale retellings and mythology mashups. Between these pages you'll find:
👑 Royal teens just trying their best
💕 Wholesome teen romance
👥 Multiple POVs
🐲 A snarky pet dragon
🃏 A morally gray trickster
✨ Magic & curses
📖 New takes on old favorites like Peter Pan, the the Wizard of Oz, and Sleeping Beauty
The story takes readers on a desperate crusade with the lovable cast of Storylore and introduces several new villains and anti-heroes who weave in and out of the story in some surprising and exciting ways. The world building was really clever and creative and full of "Easter eggs" for those who know the stories that inspire it.
There are a couple romantic subplots throughout this adventure! I loved Cerys and Zion together 🥰 He's such a supportive green flag 💚 The second romance was a love triangle involving a sensitive prince and morally gray trickster competing for the attention of a clever inventor who feels a little overwhelmed by both their attentions. I'm not much of a love triangle or morally gray character fan, so these elements weren't my favorite, but I'm sure readers who enjoy those tropes will eat it up!
The plot is filled with exploration, danger, discovery, and magic. One element I missed from the first book was the road trip vibes since the characters traveled mostly on foot in this one, but the places they visit are mysterious and beautiful! Unfortunately, there were times when I found myself struggling to understand character motivations and plot points and this made it a little harder for me to enjoy the story. But every reader has different capacity for grasping twists and turns, so my experience may not be yours.
Overall, this is a story about friendship and fighting for what you believe in. It's delightfully YA and perfect for teens both in how clean it is and the struggles the characters face. And the autumn vibes are perfect for seasonal reading! 🍂📖🥰
I had the honor of receiving an early copy of this story from the author and chose to give this honest review after finishing it. All opinions are unsolicited and my own.
A perfect YA adventure for any reader who loves fairytale retellings and mythology mashups. Between these pages you'll find:
👑 Royal teens just trying their best
💕 Wholesome teen romance
👥 Multiple POVs
🐲 A snarky pet dragon
🃏 A morally gray trickster
✨ Magic & curses
📖 New takes on old favorites like Peter Pan, the the Wizard of Oz, and Sleeping Beauty
The story takes readers on a desperate crusade with the lovable cast of Storylore and introduces several new villains and anti-heroes who weave in and out of the story in some surprising and exciting ways. The world building was really clever and creative and full of "Easter eggs" for those who know the stories that inspire it.
There are a couple romantic subplots throughout this adventure! I loved Cerys and Zion together 🥰 He's such a supportive green flag 💚 The second romance was a love triangle involving a sensitive prince and morally gray trickster competing for the attention of a clever inventor who feels a little overwhelmed by both their attentions. I'm not much of a love triangle or morally gray character fan, so these elements weren't my favorite, but I'm sure readers who enjoy those tropes will eat it up!
The plot is filled with exploration, danger, discovery, and magic. One element I missed from the first book was the road trip vibes since the characters traveled mostly on foot in this one, but the places they visit are mysterious and beautiful! Unfortunately, there were times when I found myself struggling to understand character motivations and plot points and this made it a little harder for me to enjoy the story. But every reader has different capacity for grasping twists and turns, so my experience may not be yours.
Overall, this is a story about friendship and fighting for what you believe in. It's delightfully YA and perfect for teens both in how clean it is and the struggles the characters face. And the autumn vibes are perfect for seasonal reading! 🍂📖🥰
I had the honor of receiving an early copy of this story from the author and chose to give this honest review after finishing it. All opinions are unsolicited and my own.
December 2, 2025
4.5 🌟
Do you enjoy fairy tales? Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty... etc? Greek Mythology? This is a page turner intended for Middle grade/ high school kids- but I (an aged adult- like a fine wine 💁🏼♀️) also enjoyed it!
It's clean (assuming you don't find things like "Acorns!" a curse), encourages friendships, family bonds, and teamwork. There are some parts with blood but not so Graphic that it would be an issue for even my youngest who is a 4th grader. There's also a few kisses shared between a boy and girl but also not described as Anything inappropriate or sexual. The only 2 warnings I'll give are its quite a thick book (but don't be deterred - its so interesting!) and the ending will leave you dying to pester Mae McKoy for Book 3!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book, and am not required to leave a review, but am doing so because I love this Author and all of her work. ❤️
Do you enjoy fairy tales? Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty... etc? Greek Mythology? This is a page turner intended for Middle grade/ high school kids- but I (an aged adult- like a fine wine 💁🏼♀️) also enjoyed it!
It's clean (assuming you don't find things like "Acorns!" a curse), encourages friendships, family bonds, and teamwork. There are some parts with blood but not so Graphic that it would be an issue for even my youngest who is a 4th grader. There's also a few kisses shared between a boy and girl but also not described as Anything inappropriate or sexual. The only 2 warnings I'll give are its quite a thick book (but don't be deterred - its so interesting!) and the ending will leave you dying to pester Mae McKoy for Book 3!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book, and am not required to leave a review, but am doing so because I love this Author and all of her work. ❤️
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews