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The Hyacinth Labyrinth
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A whimsical adventure full of magic, fantastical road trips, and a sapphic slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance—for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
All magic begins in stories. That’s what Fae princess Hyacinth has always been told. As the unmagical daughter of Queen Mab, Hyacinth has never fit in at her mother’s court. She hopes that if she learns about her father, who disappeared fifteen years ago, she can finally learn more about herself.
When Hyacinth and her friend Chloe—a human stablehand trapped in Fae—sneak off to a riverside night market, Hyacinth learns that her father was last seen heading to a library at the heart of a treacherous labyrinth. The problem: The labyrinth was built long ago by three goddesses, and no one has ever returned from it.
Still, Hyacinth has to try.
With the help of Chloe and a tiny dragon named Coffee, she defies Queen Mab and sets off into the wilds of the Moonshadow Kingdom. Along the way they face bandits, magical creatures, a centuries-old human who hosts an Endless Ball, and Hyacinth and Chloe’s growing feelings for each other. Meanwhile, an ancient power lies in wait at the center of the labyrinth, and it is eager to write the girls’ ending.
A lush, fairycore, sapphic YA fantasy that returns readers to the Fae world introduced in Jamie Pacton’s bestselling novel The Absinthe Underground!
Perfect for readers who love Sapphic Slow-Burn, Friends-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Princess/Lady Knight, Bodyguard Romance, Fae/Human Relationships, Only One Bed, and Stories Are Magic!
All magic begins in stories. That’s what Fae princess Hyacinth has always been told. As the unmagical daughter of Queen Mab, Hyacinth has never fit in at her mother’s court. She hopes that if she learns about her father, who disappeared fifteen years ago, she can finally learn more about herself.
When Hyacinth and her friend Chloe—a human stablehand trapped in Fae—sneak off to a riverside night market, Hyacinth learns that her father was last seen heading to a library at the heart of a treacherous labyrinth. The problem: The labyrinth was built long ago by three goddesses, and no one has ever returned from it.
Still, Hyacinth has to try.
With the help of Chloe and a tiny dragon named Coffee, she defies Queen Mab and sets off into the wilds of the Moonshadow Kingdom. Along the way they face bandits, magical creatures, a centuries-old human who hosts an Endless Ball, and Hyacinth and Chloe’s growing feelings for each other. Meanwhile, an ancient power lies in wait at the center of the labyrinth, and it is eager to write the girls’ ending.
A lush, fairycore, sapphic YA fantasy that returns readers to the Fae world introduced in Jamie Pacton’s bestselling novel The Absinthe Underground!
Perfect for readers who love Sapphic Slow-Burn, Friends-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Princess/Lady Knight, Bodyguard Romance, Fae/Human Relationships, Only One Bed, and Stories Are Magic!
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
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409 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I genuinely didn’t think I could enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the previous book (The Absinthe Underground) because that book was GOOD, but this book? SO much better, the writing is better, the world building is clearer, you can just see the growth of the author in the writing, and that allows the story to just be better?
This is a princess and lady sort-of knight tale, and the real ones know they are my favorite, so I was DOWN for this book. I jumped at it, Leaped if you will. And then there was a teacup sized dragon added into the mix? WHAT ELSE CAN YOU WANT???
The storyline was beautiful, it was all about an incredibly underestimated princess, Hyacinth, wanting to find her long lost father, all she has is an old book of his and the name store it came from. She brings her ‘best friend’ Chloe along, because they are inseparable, but they are only friends of course because they have only kissed once, and obviously neither of them want to talk about it or happen again, obviously.
The author took inspiration from Emily Wildes Encyclopedia Of Faeries, which also stood out to me because I have been wanting a sapphic story similar to that series for a LONG time, and this was perfect, everything I have dreamed of, everything I asked for (in my head) and I am SO grateful and excited and emotional and all the feelings about this book.
I loved all the characters we met along the way, the adventure Princess Hyacinth and Chloe went on was a rollercoaster that took many turns and was very eventful, meaning we met many side characters along the way, who were all beautifully written, my ultimate favorites I can’t talk about too much without spoiling my favorite part of the book, but I LOVED the nightpine fairies, they were the light after the darkness, and exactly what the story needed at that moment, I also can’t talk at all about my second favorite because that would spoil two special reveals, but I loved who Chloe and Hyacinth met after the fairies too. I loved how this story was written, the light after the dark, but the dark was never forgotten, it stuck in Chloe and Hyacinths mind (particularly Chloe) and I liked that because it felt real. Too many times in these books do characters go through truly terrible things and then it’s just forgotten and the characters move on like nothing happened, but not in this book.
I loved how this felt like a true fairytale, similar to the first book, so much happened and it was so full of action but it still managed to be cozy and there was always the relaxed moments that were so beautiful. I am incredibly grateful for this book, and this series, THANK YOU 🤍
This is a princess and lady sort-of knight tale, and the real ones know they are my favorite, so I was DOWN for this book. I jumped at it, Leaped if you will. And then there was a teacup sized dragon added into the mix? WHAT ELSE CAN YOU WANT???
The storyline was beautiful, it was all about an incredibly underestimated princess, Hyacinth, wanting to find her long lost father, all she has is an old book of his and the name store it came from. She brings her ‘best friend’ Chloe along, because they are inseparable, but they are only friends of course because they have only kissed once, and obviously neither of them want to talk about it or happen again, obviously.
The author took inspiration from Emily Wildes Encyclopedia Of Faeries, which also stood out to me because I have been wanting a sapphic story similar to that series for a LONG time, and this was perfect, everything I have dreamed of, everything I asked for (in my head) and I am SO grateful and excited and emotional and all the feelings about this book.
I loved all the characters we met along the way, the adventure Princess Hyacinth and Chloe went on was a rollercoaster that took many turns and was very eventful, meaning we met many side characters along the way, who were all beautifully written, my ultimate favorites I can’t talk about too much without spoiling my favorite part of the book, but I LOVED the nightpine fairies, they were the light after the darkness, and exactly what the story needed at that moment, I also can’t talk at all about my second favorite because that would spoil two special reveals, but I loved who Chloe and Hyacinth met after the fairies too. I loved how this story was written, the light after the dark, but the dark was never forgotten, it stuck in Chloe and Hyacinths mind (particularly Chloe) and I liked that because it felt real. Too many times in these books do characters go through truly terrible things and then it’s just forgotten and the characters move on like nothing happened, but not in this book.
I loved how this felt like a true fairytale, similar to the first book, so much happened and it was so full of action but it still managed to be cozy and there was always the relaxed moments that were so beautiful. I am incredibly grateful for this book, and this series, THANK YOU 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC from Netgalley
Book is a classic princess who has big plans for her kingdom but no one expects much because she's a women. She has knight/swordswomen best friend that is the love interest. However, it's not necessarily slow burn, just angst in the fact they are aware they like eachother but don't know how to discuss it or where they want their relationship to go from there. Also, they had bigger priorities then their love lives at the moment. However, it gives the a chance to mature and grow together before a relationship is officially formed.
Great fairy lore. Clearly inspired by Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. Also some Legends and Lattes vibes in there in the whimsical cozy YA fantasy sense. A felt some Labyrinth but any book with a maze or labyrinth makes me think of The Labyrinth.
Writing and writing style is clear and easy to read. Nothing spectacular, but I got through it quickly.
Book is a classic princess who has big plans for her kingdom but no one expects much because she's a women. She has knight/swordswomen best friend that is the love interest. However, it's not necessarily slow burn, just angst in the fact they are aware they like eachother but don't know how to discuss it or where they want their relationship to go from there. Also, they had bigger priorities then their love lives at the moment. However, it gives the a chance to mature and grow together before a relationship is officially formed.
Great fairy lore. Clearly inspired by Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. Also some Legends and Lattes vibes in there in the whimsical cozy YA fantasy sense. A felt some Labyrinth but any book with a maze or labyrinth makes me think of The Labyrinth.
Writing and writing style is clear and easy to read. Nothing spectacular, but I got through it quickly.
Read
December 19, 2025This is absolutely everything that I love about YA. Jamie is able to capture the sweetness and the angst that comes with being a teen, as well as the pure wonder of the Fae world. It was such a joy to read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this alleged slow-burn (the girls had already kissed by like the second page), we get this teenage angst thats wrapped into a whimsical ya adventure. Didn't love it, didn't hate it, just not what I had expected.
Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
dnf-abandoned
January 16, 2026The blurb says slow-burn, but on page 2 the girls have already kissed, lmao. This probably could be good, but I prefer UST so moving on to find something ACTUALLY slow-burn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews