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The Idlewood Duology #2
The Neon Sky
For fans of Stephanie Garber and Holly Black comes the bewitching sequel to The Glittering Edge, where magic is real, witches make irresistible boyfriends, and keeping secrets is dangerous–but not as dangerous as the truth.
Penny Emberly didn’t expect to fall head over heels for Alonso De Luca last summer–or to discover that he’s a witch. Together with their friend Corey Barrion, they managed to save her mother from a deadly spell. Now autumn has arrived, and Penny believes they can take on anything.
But darkness is descending on the small town of Idlewood. Corey is desperate to undo the bloody legacy that made his family rich. The price, however, is steep: to unravel the magical bargain made by his grandfather, Corey must take a life.
As Corey wrestles with an impossible choice, Alonso begins to change. The more he pushes the limits of his magic, the more volatile, violent, and possessive he becomes. When tragedy strikes one of their classmates, the trio is forced to confront a terrifying question: is Alonso being consumed by something that’s bent on the destruction of everyone around him–especially Penny and Corey?
As supernatural forces drive them apart, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice before more blood is spilled–even if it means losing each other.
Penny Emberly didn’t expect to fall head over heels for Alonso De Luca last summer–or to discover that he’s a witch. Together with their friend Corey Barrion, they managed to save her mother from a deadly spell. Now autumn has arrived, and Penny believes they can take on anything.
But darkness is descending on the small town of Idlewood. Corey is desperate to undo the bloody legacy that made his family rich. The price, however, is steep: to unravel the magical bargain made by his grandfather, Corey must take a life.
As Corey wrestles with an impossible choice, Alonso begins to change. The more he pushes the limits of his magic, the more volatile, violent, and possessive he becomes. When tragedy strikes one of their classmates, the trio is forced to confront a terrifying question: is Alonso being consumed by something that’s bent on the destruction of everyone around him–especially Penny and Corey?
As supernatural forces drive them apart, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice before more blood is spilled–even if it means losing each other.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Alyssa Villaire
8 books166 followersAlyssa Villaire is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Glittering Edge and the upcoming sequel, The Neon Sky. She writes fantasy books with eerie magic, complicated friendships, and lots of yearning. She’s based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and a steadily growing library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
excuse me alyssa keep your windows open at night to give your sequel manuscript some air ❤️
EDIT OH MY GOD COVER AND BLURB WOMAIQJSNSIQUNWIWUQMWOQMQKQM IM GOING INSANE
EDIT OH MY GOD COVER AND BLURB WOMAIQJSNSIQUNWIWUQMWOQMQKQM IM GOING INSANE
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February 26, 2025that cliffhanger
June 18, 2026
One of my favourite ya fantasy duologys ever - I absolutely love these characters!
The stakes were high, especially after the ending of the first book, and I was on edge the whole time rooting for the guys to succeed! The yearning between Penny and Alonso, it was full of those giddy butterfly feelings you get when you’re young and in love.
The plot was fast paced and fun, I loved the witchy magical side and the attempts at the exorcisms and the veil to the other side. I enjoyed having multiple PoV with the different characters. I didn’t see the twists and reveals coming at the end!
Emotions were high the whole time and I love when an author creates characters you love and care about as if they’re real and you know them in real life.
This is definitely a cosy comfort duology for me that I will revisit again and again.
And that ending was perfect - I shed a tear.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The stakes were high, especially after the ending of the first book, and I was on edge the whole time rooting for the guys to succeed! The yearning between Penny and Alonso, it was full of those giddy butterfly feelings you get when you’re young and in love.
The plot was fast paced and fun, I loved the witchy magical side and the attempts at the exorcisms and the veil to the other side. I enjoyed having multiple PoV with the different characters. I didn’t see the twists and reveals coming at the end!
Emotions were high the whole time and I love when an author creates characters you love and care about as if they’re real and you know them in real life.
This is definitely a cosy comfort duology for me that I will revisit again and again.
And that ending was perfect - I shed a tear.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2026
My main take from this is… we love men who yearn.
Because it felt like the mantra for this book. Nearly every male character in this book/series has been caught yearning over a gorgeous, amazing, brilliant woman, and we love them for it!
Toxic masculinity? Not round here partner?
But seriously, I’ve been so scared to read this book since The Glittering Edge was one of my favourite reads of all time last year, and I’ve already been let down by long awaited sequels quite a bit lately. So basically, I needed this one to be perfect!
And it delivered. It 100% delivered!
Just like before I was caught up in the story from page 1, and it was no surprise that I inevitably decided to just stay up and finish it since I only had so much left. So yes I read this (technically) in one sitting. And it definitely had me making the shocked pikachu face a few too many times.
It had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, clawing at my hair, to the point I wasn’t sure how the story was gonna go. And yes I did in fact cry which is a very rare thing for the books I read to do to me, so just for that it automatically got 6 stars.
Is it a perfect book? No. The pacing is a little too fast and the story felt rushed at times. But was it the perfect book for me? Yes!
It was just what I needed and the plot unfolded better than I had ever imagined. Alonso and Penny are my otp and I adore them with all my heart.
(Lowkey felt very Southern while writing this review, and I have absolutely no idea why…)
Because it felt like the mantra for this book. Nearly every male character in this book/series has been caught yearning over a gorgeous, amazing, brilliant woman, and we love them for it!
Toxic masculinity? Not round here partner?
But seriously, I’ve been so scared to read this book since The Glittering Edge was one of my favourite reads of all time last year, and I’ve already been let down by long awaited sequels quite a bit lately. So basically, I needed this one to be perfect!
And it delivered. It 100% delivered!
Just like before I was caught up in the story from page 1, and it was no surprise that I inevitably decided to just stay up and finish it since I only had so much left. So yes I read this (technically) in one sitting. And it definitely had me making the shocked pikachu face a few too many times.
It had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, clawing at my hair, to the point I wasn’t sure how the story was gonna go. And yes I did in fact cry which is a very rare thing for the books I read to do to me, so just for that it automatically got 6 stars.
Is it a perfect book? No. The pacing is a little too fast and the story felt rushed at times. But was it the perfect book for me? Yes!
It was just what I needed and the plot unfolded better than I had ever imagined. Alonso and Penny are my otp and I adore them with all my heart.
(Lowkey felt very Southern while writing this review, and I have absolutely no idea why…)
June 1, 2026
Deze duologie voelde voor mij ZO nostalgisch! De setting, de love triangle, het plot: het voelde net alsof ik als tiener zat te kijken naar shows als Teen Wolf of The Vampire Diaries. I loved it.
Dit tweede deel was ook echt een perfecte afsluiting van de duologie. Als je nog op zoek bent naar een boek waar je echt doorheen vliegt en je de vibes geeft van de series die ik hierboven noem: pak deze boeken op.
Dit tweede deel was ook echt een perfecte afsluiting van de duologie. Als je nog op zoek bent naar een boek waar je echt doorheen vliegt en je de vibes geeft van de series die ik hierboven noem: pak deze boeken op.
May 24, 2026
I absolutely loved The Glittering Edge, so I went into The Neon Sky with really high expectations… and unfortunately, this sequel just didn’t fully work for me.
The biggest issue was that I struggled to connect with the characters for most of the book. Penny especially felt very different compared to the first installment. Her low self-esteem and insecurities came across much more forced this time around, which was confusing because I never perceived her that way before. It almost felt like parts of her personality had been rewritten to fit the conflict of the sequel rather than evolving naturally from Book 1.
I was also expecting much more emotional and psychological impact from Alonso being possessed by Giovanni’s poltergeist. The setup had so much potential for tension, horror, and drama, but it never reached the level of intensity I hoped for. Everything felt a bit too restrained considering the premise.
And Corey falling for Penny was so obvious from the start that there was barely any suspense or emotional payoff in that storyline for me.
That said, the atmosphere and writing still kept me engaged enough to finish the book, and the final third definitely improved the experience overall. I just wish the emotional depth and character development had been stronger throughout the entire story.
Not a bad sequel by any means — just one that sadly didn’t live up to the expectations the first book created for me.
The biggest issue was that I struggled to connect with the characters for most of the book. Penny especially felt very different compared to the first installment. Her low self-esteem and insecurities came across much more forced this time around, which was confusing because I never perceived her that way before. It almost felt like parts of her personality had been rewritten to fit the conflict of the sequel rather than evolving naturally from Book 1.
I was also expecting much more emotional and psychological impact from Alonso being possessed by Giovanni’s poltergeist. The setup had so much potential for tension, horror, and drama, but it never reached the level of intensity I hoped for. Everything felt a bit too restrained considering the premise.
And Corey falling for Penny was so obvious from the start that there was barely any suspense or emotional payoff in that storyline for me.
That said, the atmosphere and writing still kept me engaged enough to finish the book, and the final third definitely improved the experience overall. I just wish the emotional depth and character development had been stronger throughout the entire story.
Not a bad sequel by any means — just one that sadly didn’t live up to the expectations the first book created for me.
February 18, 2026
Arc provided by Net Galley
I LOVED this. I was so worried for Alonso especially when he wanted to sacrifice himself but im glad he survived and in the end was able to learn to control his magic and ended up with Penny. I like that Corey is also getting a happy ending too :))
I LOVED this. I was so worried for Alonso especially when he wanted to sacrifice himself but im glad he survived and in the end was able to learn to control his magic and ended up with Penny. I like that Corey is also getting a happy ending too :))
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
Such a satisfying follow-up to The Glittering Edge. Twisty, fun, and character-driven, The Neon Sky resolves the cliffhangers and allows us to spend some more time in our favorite small Midwestern town, Idlewood. I really enjoyed the additional perspectives and the new characters (I need a Marley spinoff stat!). But my favorite component of both books of the Idlewood Duology is the strong familial ties - nuanced, at times complicated, but rooted in deep love at their core.
June 5, 2026
This is such a good duology! I really liked the first book and this one wrapped up the story quite nicely, at least for our main characters. When it comes to some side characters, I feel like there were some things revealed/started that were not acknowledged again? It would make sense if the author wants to write a spin off or something bit idk. Anyways, I liked the first book more but this one was still good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a satisfying conclusion to the explosive debut novel The Glittering Edge - I loved that we go to know more about how witches work, like The pacing did feel a touch rushed toward the end, but that might have been because of the sheer amount of things that were happening - I feel like this could have easily been a trilogy at least. There was a lot of character development that happened off-screen between this book and the last one that I wished that we could have seen, I love these characters and this world and would absolutely love to read a novella about All in all, this was a fun and enjoyable read, and I would absolutely re-read it again.
This book was a satisfying conclusion to the explosive debut novel The Glittering Edge - I loved that we go to know more about how witches work, like The pacing did feel a touch rushed toward the end, but that might have been because of the sheer amount of things that were happening - I feel like this could have easily been a trilogy at least. There was a lot of character development that happened off-screen between this book and the last one that I wished that we could have seen, I love these characters and this world and would absolutely love to read a novella about All in all, this was a fun and enjoyable read, and I would absolutely re-read it again.
June 16, 2026
The final installment of the "Idlewood Duology" features a dangerous poltergeist, a love triangle, and a fight to end a decades long family curse.
Penny Emberly's life has changed so much in one summer. She learned that magic is real—and that it almost killed her mother. She's also in love with the town's bad boy, Alonso De Luca, which she never saw coming. Oh, and she also learned that Alonso is a witch with powerful magical abilities. With the help of their dear friend Corey Barrion, the three saved her mother's life, but they still have to break the curse that haunts all of their families. Unfortunately, Alonso has been possessed by the poltergeist of his grandfather who is out for blood. Corey has learned that in order to break the curse, he'll have to sacrifice the life of another. With all three of them desperate for the bloodshed to end, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must put their heads together to finally end this bloody curse that has haunted them their entire lives.
I absolutely ate up the first book in this series, "The Glittering Edge," so I was excited to read book two when it came out. My library was awesome enough to purchase it for me, so I didn't have to buy it myself. I definitely didn't like this one as much as the first, but it was nice seeing Penny, Corey, and Alonso get the resolution they deserved.
One thing I noticed right away was that this book followed way more PoVs than the first. We're in Gio, Dylan, and Marley's heads on top of our three MCs. I think this distanced me from the story a little bit, but I understand why it was done at times. I personally was okay with Gio's perspective, because he at times replaced Alonso, but everyone else felt a bit out of place.
At the start of this book, Penny and Alonso are together. I think it's fun when characters start out in later installments of a series already in a committed relationship, because it lets the author explore their romantic bond more. Seeing how Alonso adores Penny at the beginning was really sweet, but it sucks that other circumstances get in the way and pull them apart pretty quickly. Corey also has a huge crush on Penny, which is something that he tried to avoid for all of book one due to the curse on his family. With Alonso out of the picture for a bit, it's even harder for Corey to deny how he feels. I personally thought that the love triangle element got a bit old in this book, but Corey has every right to feel how he feels and Penny is honestly a confused mess throughout this entire book.
I feel that our three main characters are still the highlight of this series. Penny is an extremely anxious individual that cares deeply and with her entire heart. I felt really bad for all the heartbreak she goes through in this book, but it is clear that she cares so much for both Corey and Alonso. Corey has been burdened with his family's expectations since the moment he was born, so he's been stressed out since he was young. I was happy to see that he finally is starting to put himself first and pursue the things that make him truly happy. Alonso has always been a troublesome lad with a violent streak. He's been doing better ever since he got with Penny, but now he is forced to live with his grandfather's crimes, too. So many people have been hurt by his family, and Alonso takes much of this burden on himself. These three young adults certainly have experienced a ton of pain in their lives, but it's amazing to see them persevere through all the hard times.
This one does seem a bit repetitive in content, so I'm glad I didn't read them back-to-back. Our three MCs are still trying to find a way to break the curse, Penny's family is still in extreme danger, and the love triangle is still going strong. I wish there would have been a tad more variation, but it was still a fine read.
I want to touch briefly on the ending, because I found it rather unsatisfying. I'll avoid spoilers, so this part will be vague, but I feel the need to express my thoughts. I was honestly pissed at Alonso for the decisions he made. It was truly frustrating to see him push everyone to the wayside like that, but whatever. I'm glad that Penny took her life into her own hands and made a plan that suited her needs. Corey sort of receives the short end of the stick, but at least his epilogue was tinged with hope for a better future. Honestly, the entire epilogue was penned in this style. It gave just enough information about the characters to tease a happy next chapter for them, but it was vague enough that everything it hinted at could never come to pass. I didn't love this for an ending, but at least all the major plot points were tied up.
Overall, "The Neon Sky" wasn't as exciting as its predecessor, but I'm glad that Penny, Corey, and Alonso were given a resolution and that they dealt with their family curse in their own unique way. I did find elements of this book to be a bit tedious such as huge similarities in plot to book one, the ever-going love triangle, and the random PoV shifts. I'm glad that everything was wrapped up, but I found myself a bit disappointed by the ending of this one, too. Penny, Corey, and Alonso are still such fun characters to follow, so I'm happy that I experienced the happy for now ending to their story.
Penny Emberly's life has changed so much in one summer. She learned that magic is real—and that it almost killed her mother. She's also in love with the town's bad boy, Alonso De Luca, which she never saw coming. Oh, and she also learned that Alonso is a witch with powerful magical abilities. With the help of their dear friend Corey Barrion, the three saved her mother's life, but they still have to break the curse that haunts all of their families. Unfortunately, Alonso has been possessed by the poltergeist of his grandfather who is out for blood. Corey has learned that in order to break the curse, he'll have to sacrifice the life of another. With all three of them desperate for the bloodshed to end, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must put their heads together to finally end this bloody curse that has haunted them their entire lives.
I absolutely ate up the first book in this series, "The Glittering Edge," so I was excited to read book two when it came out. My library was awesome enough to purchase it for me, so I didn't have to buy it myself. I definitely didn't like this one as much as the first, but it was nice seeing Penny, Corey, and Alonso get the resolution they deserved.
One thing I noticed right away was that this book followed way more PoVs than the first. We're in Gio, Dylan, and Marley's heads on top of our three MCs. I think this distanced me from the story a little bit, but I understand why it was done at times. I personally was okay with Gio's perspective, because he at times replaced Alonso, but everyone else felt a bit out of place.
At the start of this book, Penny and Alonso are together. I think it's fun when characters start out in later installments of a series already in a committed relationship, because it lets the author explore their romantic bond more. Seeing how Alonso adores Penny at the beginning was really sweet, but it sucks that other circumstances get in the way and pull them apart pretty quickly. Corey also has a huge crush on Penny, which is something that he tried to avoid for all of book one due to the curse on his family. With Alonso out of the picture for a bit, it's even harder for Corey to deny how he feels. I personally thought that the love triangle element got a bit old in this book, but Corey has every right to feel how he feels and Penny is honestly a confused mess throughout this entire book.
I feel that our three main characters are still the highlight of this series. Penny is an extremely anxious individual that cares deeply and with her entire heart. I felt really bad for all the heartbreak she goes through in this book, but it is clear that she cares so much for both Corey and Alonso. Corey has been burdened with his family's expectations since the moment he was born, so he's been stressed out since he was young. I was happy to see that he finally is starting to put himself first and pursue the things that make him truly happy. Alonso has always been a troublesome lad with a violent streak. He's been doing better ever since he got with Penny, but now he is forced to live with his grandfather's crimes, too. So many people have been hurt by his family, and Alonso takes much of this burden on himself. These three young adults certainly have experienced a ton of pain in their lives, but it's amazing to see them persevere through all the hard times.
This one does seem a bit repetitive in content, so I'm glad I didn't read them back-to-back. Our three MCs are still trying to find a way to break the curse, Penny's family is still in extreme danger, and the love triangle is still going strong. I wish there would have been a tad more variation, but it was still a fine read.
I want to touch briefly on the ending, because I found it rather unsatisfying. I'll avoid spoilers, so this part will be vague, but I feel the need to express my thoughts. I was honestly pissed at Alonso for the decisions he made. It was truly frustrating to see him push everyone to the wayside like that, but whatever. I'm glad that Penny took her life into her own hands and made a plan that suited her needs. Corey sort of receives the short end of the stick, but at least his epilogue was tinged with hope for a better future. Honestly, the entire epilogue was penned in this style. It gave just enough information about the characters to tease a happy next chapter for them, but it was vague enough that everything it hinted at could never come to pass. I didn't love this for an ending, but at least all the major plot points were tied up.
Overall, "The Neon Sky" wasn't as exciting as its predecessor, but I'm glad that Penny, Corey, and Alonso were given a resolution and that they dealt with their family curse in their own unique way. I did find elements of this book to be a bit tedious such as huge similarities in plot to book one, the ever-going love triangle, and the random PoV shifts. I'm glad that everything was wrapped up, but I found myself a bit disappointed by the ending of this one, too. Penny, Corey, and Alonso are still such fun characters to follow, so I'm happy that I experienced the happy for now ending to their story.
May 23, 2026
The Neon Sky picks up where The Glittering Edge left off. Whilst things may seem to be ‘getting back to normal’ following the events of book one, there’s a sinister presence lurking in the background. A supernatural force that’s out for revenge and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the pursuit of that. Someone who’s dangerous and violent and out for destruction. And has their sights set on the Cosy Book Club.
“He feels his coven’s anxiety. Their fear. Their occasional attempts at magic that might unlock his situation. But the only real clue they’ve had is the tarot card Alonso pulls from Aunt Donna’s deck every single day: The Devil.”
I really enjoyed this sequel! It has the nostalgic feel of those 2010s love triangle YAs but brought into the modern day. The writing was polished, the world building was vivid and the characters were characterised so well!
Penny is trying to move on from the events of book one - she’s happy with Alonso and trying to decide what her future might hold. She really ends up going through it in this book and my heart broke for her! I love how her character progressed throughout - from her anxiety struggles in book one, to standing up for herself in book two.
Alonso is definitely being put through in this book and it was actually heartbreaking. I really like his character - from his magic, to his love for Penny and his quick wit. But we also get a different side to him in this book - his struggles and how he faces what happens to him in the sequel. I love a multifaceted character and Alonso didn’t disappoint.
Corey is struggling under the pressures from his family but also his growing feelings for Penny. He knows she’s with Alonso, but he also knows if he falls in love with her then she dies. Talk about stakes! He either has to watch the girl he’s falling for love someone else, or she dies. There’s no happy ending for him unless the curse is broken. I enjoyed how he stood apart from his family and only wanted to do the ‘right’ thing. He’s evolved since book one and I really liked his arc.
A special mention has to be made for the side characters in this - especially Dylan and Naomi.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. The tension of who Penny will end up with and the heartbreak of the one who’s left out. And the carnage that the antagonist leaves in its wake was so captivating! I had no idea how this was going to be resolved and I couldn’t put it down.
This book is bursting with magic, drama and so many reveals! If you’re looking for a gothic fantasy with a love triangle then this is the duology for you.
ARC copy provided by Penguin & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
“He feels his coven’s anxiety. Their fear. Their occasional attempts at magic that might unlock his situation. But the only real clue they’ve had is the tarot card Alonso pulls from Aunt Donna’s deck every single day: The Devil.”
I really enjoyed this sequel! It has the nostalgic feel of those 2010s love triangle YAs but brought into the modern day. The writing was polished, the world building was vivid and the characters were characterised so well!
Penny is trying to move on from the events of book one - she’s happy with Alonso and trying to decide what her future might hold. She really ends up going through it in this book and my heart broke for her! I love how her character progressed throughout - from her anxiety struggles in book one, to standing up for herself in book two.
Alonso is definitely being put through in this book and it was actually heartbreaking. I really like his character - from his magic, to his love for Penny and his quick wit. But we also get a different side to him in this book - his struggles and how he faces what happens to him in the sequel. I love a multifaceted character and Alonso didn’t disappoint.
Corey is struggling under the pressures from his family but also his growing feelings for Penny. He knows she’s with Alonso, but he also knows if he falls in love with her then she dies. Talk about stakes! He either has to watch the girl he’s falling for love someone else, or she dies. There’s no happy ending for him unless the curse is broken. I enjoyed how he stood apart from his family and only wanted to do the ‘right’ thing. He’s evolved since book one and I really liked his arc.
A special mention has to be made for the side characters in this - especially Dylan and Naomi.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. The tension of who Penny will end up with and the heartbreak of the one who’s left out. And the carnage that the antagonist leaves in its wake was so captivating! I had no idea how this was going to be resolved and I couldn’t put it down.
This book is bursting with magic, drama and so many reveals! If you’re looking for a gothic fantasy with a love triangle then this is the duology for you.
ARC copy provided by Penguin & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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June 12, 2026Ended up really liking where things went and how they wrapped up! There was a second in the middle there when Corey and Penny were having there moment where I was like 🤨 because it felt a bit sudden, but I came back around.
I absolutely loved all the characters here. Each one, even the side characters had so much depth.
I’ll also say I hate when a love triangle is rendered obsolete because of some outside force (e.g. one of the suitors dies, or they move, etc) you get it. I much prefer when a choice has to be made, and that’s what happened here. Thank you Alyssa Villaire.
Only thing about this series that I couldn’t get on board with and thought was corny was the amount of physical alterations we had. But that does feel like a stereotypical high school trope, so I can forgive it. I just needed those boys to go take a walk or do some breathing exercises.
I absolutely loved all the characters here. Each one, even the side characters had so much depth.
I’ll also say I hate when a love triangle is rendered obsolete because of some outside force (e.g. one of the suitors dies, or they move, etc) you get it. I much prefer when a choice has to be made, and that’s what happened here. Thank you Alyssa Villaire.
Only thing about this series that I couldn’t get on board with and thought was corny was the amount of physical alterations we had. But that does feel like a stereotypical high school trope, so I can forgive it. I just needed those boys to go take a walk or do some breathing exercises.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2026
Its Okay to Love them Both!
I am referring to both books in this series by @alyssavillaire ! The Glittering Edge and The Neon Sky! Thank you so much for letting me read both as ARCs on netgalley!
This is actually a great conclusion to the story. It had a dimension of its own drama that followed us from Book 1, unsuspecting and I was worried for a minute! But I actually enjoyed that it gave more character development and time and we got to know a few others better too!
A younger take on witchy vibes too which was nice! Family drama follows of course and a plot twist to boot! It was a great read!
If your looking for some love triangle, witchy, YA this is the place to go!
I am referring to both books in this series by @alyssavillaire ! The Glittering Edge and The Neon Sky! Thank you so much for letting me read both as ARCs on netgalley!
This is actually a great conclusion to the story. It had a dimension of its own drama that followed us from Book 1, unsuspecting and I was worried for a minute! But I actually enjoyed that it gave more character development and time and we got to know a few others better too!
A younger take on witchy vibes too which was nice! Family drama follows of course and a plot twist to boot! It was a great read!
If your looking for some love triangle, witchy, YA this is the place to go!
June 10, 2026
Solid 3⭐️ Spooky atmosphere with witchy vibes ✨
I went in with my expectations a little high after finishing the first book, The Glittering Edge but this one didn’t quite live up to the hype I built up in my mind.
Penny started grating on my nerves after a while and I wasn’t feeling the love triangle either.
It might not have been for me but I could see others really enjoying this story. It does read very young so if YA isn’t your thing I would skip over this series.
I went in with my expectations a little high after finishing the first book, The Glittering Edge but this one didn’t quite live up to the hype I built up in my mind.
Penny started grating on my nerves after a while and I wasn’t feeling the love triangle either.
It might not have been for me but I could see others really enjoying this story. It does read very young so if YA isn’t your thing I would skip over this series.
June 24, 2026
This book was okay.. some things were done that I did not like. The romance(s) where chaotic. I do not like that we go from love triangle, to the girl picking a guy, and then back to the love triangle again back and forth
May 27, 2026
I loved this duology so much! 🥰 The epilogue was perfection
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars!
Thank you to Little Brown Books, Alyssa Villaire, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
I enjoyed most parts of this book! It was a pretty good follow up, but there are things that fell flat or bothered me
I know this was gonna be a love triangle centered series, but it really made it hard for me to get into
I don't normally like them, but I was hoping it wouldn't completely go that way
All of the miscommunication and switching love interest choices... bothered me so badly
I'm glad it developed into a good character arcs for all of them, especially Corey. But it was aggravating that things kept flipping around
The story came to a pretty good ending - it was beneficial for all of the characters and the ending was honestly very cute
I think this was a pretty action packed ending to the story too! I was glad it was more fast paced. It was a fun series! I think the vibes of the book were immaculate, and it had a lot of good parts, and the characters all felt very individualistic and real. There was a lot of plot points, and the main one wrapped up nicely - but there was a lot of other plots to focus on that it made the reading experience somewhat overloaded sometimes
Overall it was fun!
Thank you to Little Brown Books, Alyssa Villaire, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
I enjoyed most parts of this book! It was a pretty good follow up, but there are things that fell flat or bothered me
I know this was gonna be a love triangle centered series, but it really made it hard for me to get into
I don't normally like them, but I was hoping it wouldn't completely go that way
All of the miscommunication and switching love interest choices... bothered me so badly
I'm glad it developed into a good character arcs for all of them, especially Corey. But it was aggravating that things kept flipping around
The story came to a pretty good ending - it was beneficial for all of the characters and the ending was honestly very cute
I think this was a pretty action packed ending to the story too! I was glad it was more fast paced. It was a fun series! I think the vibes of the book were immaculate, and it had a lot of good parts, and the characters all felt very individualistic and real. There was a lot of plot points, and the main one wrapped up nicely - but there was a lot of other plots to focus on that it made the reading experience somewhat overloaded sometimes
Overall it was fun!
May 20, 2026
I think if this story didn't have the love triangle, I would have really loved it. Maybe I'm just over the love triangle scene though.
It was definitely a page turner and I really liked the ending. I think I'm just a little too old for the teenage angst scene, especially in a fantasy setting where people will get killed while the kids are pining over each other! 😅
I think 16 year old me would have loved this a lot more! And that is who it's for after all so I would absolutely conclude that this is a good book! 💛
Since this is a YA story, here are some trigger warnings (which include spoilers) in case you want to buy the book for your kid:
Death (including a young person and an animal), murder, gun violence, car crash, loss of a parent, mental health issues, cursing (both swear words and actual curses lol).
There are some spicy kisses too, though nothing more than that. :)
It was definitely a page turner and I really liked the ending. I think I'm just a little too old for the teenage angst scene, especially in a fantasy setting where people will get killed while the kids are pining over each other! 😅
I think 16 year old me would have loved this a lot more! And that is who it's for after all so I would absolutely conclude that this is a good book! 💛
Since this is a YA story, here are some trigger warnings (which include spoilers) in case you want to buy the book for your kid:
Death (including a young person and an animal), murder, gun violence, car crash, loss of a parent, mental health issues, cursing (both swear words and actual curses lol).
There are some spicy kisses too, though nothing more than that. :)
May 20, 2026
The Neon Sky absolutely wrecked me emotionally and I loved every second of it.
What an ending. This book had me stressed, emotional, angry, soft, then stressed again every five minutes. There were SO many moments where I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room because Alyssa really loves keeping us suffering apparently 🤣
The conclusion was such a rollercoaster but in the best way possible. Every twist actually hit, the emotions felt real, and the tension never let up. I kept thinking “surely we can rest now?” and the answer was always no.
And Alonso… yeah I still love him, your honour. No thoughts, just Alonso. Even when I was frustrated, I was still rooting for him the entire time.
What I really loved was that the ending felt earned. The emotional moments hit hard because the journey to get there was messy, painful, and chaotic in the best way.
Honestly one of those books that leaves you staring at the ceiling afterwards trying to recover emotionally instead of acting like a functioning human being. Fantastic conclusion and now I need emotional compensation 💔🔥
What an ending. This book had me stressed, emotional, angry, soft, then stressed again every five minutes. There were SO many moments where I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room because Alyssa really loves keeping us suffering apparently 🤣
The conclusion was such a rollercoaster but in the best way possible. Every twist actually hit, the emotions felt real, and the tension never let up. I kept thinking “surely we can rest now?” and the answer was always no.
And Alonso… yeah I still love him, your honour. No thoughts, just Alonso. Even when I was frustrated, I was still rooting for him the entire time.
What I really loved was that the ending felt earned. The emotional moments hit hard because the journey to get there was messy, painful, and chaotic in the best way.
Honestly one of those books that leaves you staring at the ceiling afterwards trying to recover emotionally instead of acting like a functioning human being. Fantastic conclusion and now I need emotional compensation 💔🔥
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After devouring The Glittering Edge a few months ago, I have been so excited (and desperate) for its sequel, The Neon Sky! In book 1, I absolutely fell in love with the characters, setting and the story as Villaire's dynamic and addicting writing made it hard for me to put the book down. Thankfully, my experience with The Neon Sky was no different! Once I got to the halfway mark, I absolutely flew through this book! The level of action and drama was off the charts and I mourned the fact that I had to put it down to go to work!! In this book, there is a large focus on character growth, particularly for Corey and Penny, as well as giving us a deeper look into the secondary cast with new and exciting POVs that also allowed for a more well-rounded and expansive story.
To say I adore the principal cast is an understatement! Penny reminds me so much of myself, so I found her development to be so inspiring and really beautiful! I felt like she really came into her own within this book, and I enjoyed this new and exciting side of her that was explored as we progressed through the novel! Additionally, Corey's journey had my heart hurting for him and I'm genuinely so pleased with the ending that we got for him! The same goes for Alonso! There were moments that really stressed me out but I was ultimately so happy with the outcome of his story! I would just adore more of these characters and I wished I could drag this book out just so I didn't have to leave such wonderful characters and a town as cozy as Idlewood!
The deeper look at the politics of magic usage was very interesting to me also so if I were to see more from this world, I'd love to delve into the Council of Witches and all of the various pockets of their inner workings! The magic system was woven so nicely within the plot that it was almost seamless! The plot of this book was super exciting with so many twists and turns that it was almost hard to keep track!
Overall, I had such a wonderful experience reading this book and I can't wait to (hopefully) see more from Alyssa Villaire in the future! The Idlewood Duology was such a fun, exciting and wonderfully expressive series that had me captivated from start to finish! With relatable and lovable characters, a close and cozy small town setting, and a magically driven plot, this series has wormed itself in my brain and I'll be thinking about it for a long time after finishing it!
🚨SPOILERS🚨
To say I adore the principal cast is an understatement! Penny reminds me so much of myself, so I found her development to be so inspiring and really beautiful! I felt like she really came into her own within this book, and I enjoyed this new and exciting side of her that was explored as we progressed through the novel! Additionally, Corey's journey had my heart hurting for him and I'm genuinely so pleased with the ending that we got for him! The same goes for Alonso! There were moments that really stressed me out but I was ultimately so happy with the outcome of his story! I would just adore more of these characters and I wished I could drag this book out just so I didn't have to leave such wonderful characters and a town as cozy as Idlewood!
The deeper look at the politics of magic usage was very interesting to me also so if I were to see more from this world, I'd love to delve into the Council of Witches and all of the various pockets of their inner workings! The magic system was woven so nicely within the plot that it was almost seamless! The plot of this book was super exciting with so many twists and turns that it was almost hard to keep track!
Overall, I had such a wonderful experience reading this book and I can't wait to (hopefully) see more from Alyssa Villaire in the future! The Idlewood Duology was such a fun, exciting and wonderfully expressive series that had me captivated from start to finish! With relatable and lovable characters, a close and cozy small town setting, and a magically driven plot, this series has wormed itself in my brain and I'll be thinking about it for a long time after finishing it!
🚨SPOILERS🚨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC! The following is my honest review:
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down
After the ending of book one, The Glittering Edge, I was so excited to return to Idlewild and spend some more time with Villaire’s lovable cast of characters.
This is a fantastic follow up. Book one laid such a strong foundation, investing the reader in the characters, who are all compelling and so easy to root for; it makes for a gripping book two! Emotions run deeper and the stakes are higher, on a myriad of fronts. In The Neon Sky the general scope of the story is broader, while remaining deeply personal.
This is a fast paced story, more-so than book one. It’s a freight train that layers additional lore, magic, mystery, and paranormal elements with some great new characters, truly heart wrenching moments, and just keeps going. The love triangle element remains and there’s a miscommunication trope that was, of course, frustrating. For me, the story really finds its stride once the miscommunication element is resolved
The character development is a real strength of the book, which explores the personal identity of the main characters through themes of race, family legacy, sacrifice, and an exploration of the many ways power can be dangerous. I found Corey’s story arc particularly valuable as he navigates his family legacy vs. his own autonomy. Penny, too, has a thoughtfully written story arc which will be comforting and inspiring to young readers who also struggle with anxiety and low self worth. This is YA books that actually speak to the teenage experience are so important. It reads YA because it’s supposed to.
I love that the ending doesn’t feel overwrought or convenient- the many threads of the story aren’t quickly tied together in a perfect bow. Rather, each of the characters find a happy ending that makes perfect sense for them individually, while still giving them room to grow. It’s a conclusion full of hope for the future the many paths and possibilities it offers.
The Neon Sky brings this duology to a really satisfying conclusion, where each of the characters gets their own happy ending; the individual story arcs of our main characters from the beginning of The Glittering Edge to the final pages of The Neon Sky are so heartwarming and healing. It’s refreshing to find YA books that are written with their audience in mind and this duology is YA story telling at it finest, capturing all of the drama, all of the stress, the high stakes and the heavy feelings.
I agree with the publisher recommend age of 14+ My only caveat is that I wish there was less use of the F word. It’s not pervasive by any means, and used less in book two, but I think it would’ve been more impactful if used more strategically. I dislike seeing it more than a handful of times in YA books.
* Additionally, whilst this is set in a fictional town in Indiana I would consider it a queer normative version of Indiana. This a great pick for young readers who want to enjoy queer characters from a place of unquestioning acceptance, love and zero judgement.
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down
After the ending of book one, The Glittering Edge, I was so excited to return to Idlewild and spend some more time with Villaire’s lovable cast of characters.
This is a fantastic follow up. Book one laid such a strong foundation, investing the reader in the characters, who are all compelling and so easy to root for; it makes for a gripping book two! Emotions run deeper and the stakes are higher, on a myriad of fronts. In The Neon Sky the general scope of the story is broader, while remaining deeply personal.
This is a fast paced story, more-so than book one. It’s a freight train that layers additional lore, magic, mystery, and paranormal elements with some great new characters, truly heart wrenching moments, and just keeps going. The love triangle element remains and there’s a miscommunication trope that was, of course, frustrating. For me, the story really finds its stride once the miscommunication element is resolved
The character development is a real strength of the book, which explores the personal identity of the main characters through themes of race, family legacy, sacrifice, and an exploration of the many ways power can be dangerous. I found Corey’s story arc particularly valuable as he navigates his family legacy vs. his own autonomy. Penny, too, has a thoughtfully written story arc which will be comforting and inspiring to young readers who also struggle with anxiety and low self worth. This is YA books that actually speak to the teenage experience are so important. It reads YA because it’s supposed to.
I love that the ending doesn’t feel overwrought or convenient- the many threads of the story aren’t quickly tied together in a perfect bow. Rather, each of the characters find a happy ending that makes perfect sense for them individually, while still giving them room to grow. It’s a conclusion full of hope for the future the many paths and possibilities it offers.
The Neon Sky brings this duology to a really satisfying conclusion, where each of the characters gets their own happy ending; the individual story arcs of our main characters from the beginning of The Glittering Edge to the final pages of The Neon Sky are so heartwarming and healing. It’s refreshing to find YA books that are written with their audience in mind and this duology is YA story telling at it finest, capturing all of the drama, all of the stress, the high stakes and the heavy feelings.
I agree with the publisher recommend age of 14+ My only caveat is that I wish there was less use of the F word. It’s not pervasive by any means, and used less in book two, but I think it would’ve been more impactful if used more strategically. I dislike seeing it more than a handful of times in YA books.
* Additionally, whilst this is set in a fictional town in Indiana I would consider it a queer normative version of Indiana. This a great pick for young readers who want to enjoy queer characters from a place of unquestioning acceptance, love and zero judgement.
May 20, 2026
**Minor spoilers**
Since finishing The Glittering Edge last year, I was anxiously awaiting for the sequel and I devoured it in two days!
While the first book laid the foundation of the storyline, introducing us to a compelling cast of characters each with their own point of view, the sequel was a lot more fast-paced with so many things happening and the introduction of new characters that I could not put the book down.
Picking up where we left off from The Glittering Edge, Corey, Penny and Alonso have to figure out a way to break the deadly bargain made by Corey's greedy and ruthless grandfather, Charles, who exchanged the lives of his family's loved ones for material wealth/success of his company. This was the same bargain that took the life of Corey's mother ten years ago and neatly killed Penny's mother at the end of the first book. Now our trio has to figure out a way to cancel out this bargain with another equally deadly one that may involve Corey having to kill someone...On top of that, Alonso is struggling to juggle his relationship with Penny while protecting her from his grandfather, Giovanni, returned from the dead and possessing his body in a bid for revenge...Needless to say the stakes and emotions in this book are a lot higher and more intense, making this a definite page turner.
The character development is a real strength of the book, which explores the personal identity of the main characters through themes of family legacy, sacrifice, and what it means to have so much power. For me personally, Corey's character ARC showed the greatest development and was the most emotional to read as we see him juggling the immense responsibility of having to take over his family's company that has caused so much pain and grief with his own autonomy and desires...While there is an HEA for all of our characters, I was left feeling a bit disappointed and maybe a little saddened with the resolution to Corey's story as I thought he deserved more...but there is nonetheless hope for him.
Alonso and Penny are also intriguing characters and I am happy
The love triangle and miscommunication trope was definitely there which was a tad frustrating to read but it ultimately resolve itself and didn't feel excessive. I did like Penny's dynamic with both Corey and Alonso where her bond with Alonso was more soul-deep while being fraught with the weight of Alonso battling his possession, while with Corey it was more jagged with this magnetic tension resulting in the trauma of the bargain that has affected both of them deeply.
I also loved the addition of new characters like Marley and seeing more of Milton (first introduced in book one) and of course I was very interested in the politics of the Council of Witches.
I enjoyed how the ending did not feel overly convenient or overwrought nor was it perfect; rather each character finds they own happy ending in a way that makes sense for each of them.
This was a 4.5 star for me. The sequel really captured all the drama, high stakes tension and emotion while not being too dark for a younger audience.
Since finishing The Glittering Edge last year, I was anxiously awaiting for the sequel and I devoured it in two days!
While the first book laid the foundation of the storyline, introducing us to a compelling cast of characters each with their own point of view, the sequel was a lot more fast-paced with so many things happening and the introduction of new characters that I could not put the book down.
Picking up where we left off from The Glittering Edge, Corey, Penny and Alonso have to figure out a way to break the deadly bargain made by Corey's greedy and ruthless grandfather, Charles, who exchanged the lives of his family's loved ones for material wealth/success of his company. This was the same bargain that took the life of Corey's mother ten years ago and neatly killed Penny's mother at the end of the first book. Now our trio has to figure out a way to cancel out this bargain with another equally deadly one that may involve Corey having to kill someone...On top of that, Alonso is struggling to juggle his relationship with Penny while protecting her from his grandfather, Giovanni, returned from the dead and possessing his body in a bid for revenge...Needless to say the stakes and emotions in this book are a lot higher and more intense, making this a definite page turner.
The character development is a real strength of the book, which explores the personal identity of the main characters through themes of family legacy, sacrifice, and what it means to have so much power. For me personally, Corey's character ARC showed the greatest development and was the most emotional to read as we see him juggling the immense responsibility of having to take over his family's company that has caused so much pain and grief with his own autonomy and desires...While there is an HEA for all of our characters, I was left feeling a bit disappointed and maybe a little saddened with the resolution to Corey's story as I thought he deserved more...but there is nonetheless hope for him.
Alonso and Penny are also intriguing characters and I am happy
The love triangle and miscommunication trope was definitely there which was a tad frustrating to read but it ultimately resolve itself and didn't feel excessive. I did like Penny's dynamic with both Corey and Alonso where her bond with Alonso was more soul-deep while being fraught with the weight of Alonso battling his possession, while with Corey it was more jagged with this magnetic tension resulting in the trauma of the bargain that has affected both of them deeply.
I also loved the addition of new characters like Marley and seeing more of Milton (first introduced in book one) and of course I was very interested in the politics of the Council of Witches.
I enjoyed how the ending did not feel overly convenient or overwrought nor was it perfect; rather each character finds they own happy ending in a way that makes sense for each of them.
This was a 4.5 star for me. The sequel really captured all the drama, high stakes tension and emotion while not being too dark for a younger audience.
May 21, 2026
📖 Title: The Neon Sky-The Glittering Edge #2
✍🏾 Author: Alyssa Villaire-I read The Glittering Edge and gave it 4🌟
📅 Publication date: 5/19/26 | Read: 5/20/26
📃 Format: e-Book 400 pgs.
Genre:
* YA
* Fantasy
* Mystery
Tropes:
*witches/occult/magic/ghosts
*family drama
*love triangle
*coming of age
*small town
*female/male friendship
*hidden truths
👆🏾POV:3rd person, multiple
⚠️TW: murder, anxiety/depression, soul possession/poltergeist
🌎 Setting: Idlewood, IN
Summary: Penny, Alonso, and Corey rescued Penny's mother last summer and discovered a new supernatural world. Now they are faced with a threat they can't see-Alonso's deceased grandfather, Giovanni. He has possessed Alonso and wants to take over his mind and body. Corey wants to reverse his grandfather Charles's bargain that made his family wealthy, but must make the ultimate sacrifice while Penny is stuck in the middle.
👩🏾 Heroine: Penny Emberly
👨🏾 Hero: Alonso De Luca
👨🏾 Hero: Corey Barrion
🎭 Other Characters
*Anita and Ron-Penny's mother and godfather
*James Barrion-Corey's father, CEO of their Heating & Cooling company
*Helen-Corey's aunt who dated Penny's mother Anita
*Dylan-Corey's ex-girlfriend
*Charles Barrion-Corey's grandfather (deceased)
*Giovanni De Luca-Alonso's grandfather(deceased)
*Julian -Alonso's cousin/Helen's son
*Naomi-Penny's friend, doesn't like witch Alonso
*Vera, Donna, Emilia-Alonso's mother and 2 aunts/De Luca coven who just got their magic back
*Nimble-Alonso's cat familiar
*Marley Pierre-a witch who helps Alonso
*Milton Pierre-on the witching council, Marley's brother
🤔 My Thoughts: A little too long for me yet I loved the journey Penny, Alonso, and Corey went on together and individually. Each HEA was bittersweet and great mental health representation.
Rating:4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️ kissing
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Little,Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alyssa Villaire for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Alyssa Villaire-I read The Glittering Edge and gave it 4🌟
📅 Publication date: 5/19/26 | Read: 5/20/26
📃 Format: e-Book 400 pgs.
Genre:
* YA
* Fantasy
* Mystery
Tropes:
*witches/occult/magic/ghosts
*family drama
*love triangle
*coming of age
*small town
*female/male friendship
*hidden truths
👆🏾POV:3rd person, multiple
⚠️TW: murder, anxiety/depression, soul possession/poltergeist
🌎 Setting: Idlewood, IN
Summary: Penny, Alonso, and Corey rescued Penny's mother last summer and discovered a new supernatural world. Now they are faced with a threat they can't see-Alonso's deceased grandfather, Giovanni. He has possessed Alonso and wants to take over his mind and body. Corey wants to reverse his grandfather Charles's bargain that made his family wealthy, but must make the ultimate sacrifice while Penny is stuck in the middle.
👩🏾 Heroine: Penny Emberly
👨🏾 Hero: Alonso De Luca
👨🏾 Hero: Corey Barrion
🎭 Other Characters
*Anita and Ron-Penny's mother and godfather
*James Barrion-Corey's father, CEO of their Heating & Cooling company
*Helen-Corey's aunt who dated Penny's mother Anita
*Dylan-Corey's ex-girlfriend
*Charles Barrion-Corey's grandfather (deceased)
*Giovanni De Luca-Alonso's grandfather(deceased)
*Julian -Alonso's cousin/Helen's son
*Naomi-Penny's friend, doesn't like witch Alonso
*Vera, Donna, Emilia-Alonso's mother and 2 aunts/De Luca coven who just got their magic back
*Nimble-Alonso's cat familiar
*Marley Pierre-a witch who helps Alonso
*Milton Pierre-on the witching council, Marley's brother
🤔 My Thoughts: A little too long for me yet I loved the journey Penny, Alonso, and Corey went on together and individually. Each HEA was bittersweet and great mental health representation.
Rating:4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️ kissing
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Little,Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alyssa Villaire for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: The Neon Sky ( The Glittering Edge Book 2)
Author: Alyssa Villaire
Synopsis: Penny Emberly didn’t expect to fall head over heels for Alonso De Luca last summer—or to discover that he’s a witch. Together with their friend Corey Barrion, they managed to save her mother from a deadly spell. Now autumn has arrived, and Penny believes they can take on anything. But darkness is descending on the small town of Idlewood. Corey is desperate to undo the bloody legacy that made his family rich. The price, however, is to unravel the magical bargain made by his grandfather, Corey must take a life. As Corey wrestles with an impossible choice, Alonso begins to change. The more he pushes the limits of his magic, the more volatile, violent, and possessive he becomes. When tragedy strikes one of their classmates, the trio is forced to confront a terrifying is Alonso being consumed by something that’s bent on the destruction of everyone around him—especially Penny and Corey? As supernatural forces drive them apart, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice before more blood is spilled—even if it means losing each other.
Review: When it comes to sequels sometimes not always are not as good as the first book! In this case I loved reading this the entire time! There was never a dull moment I didn’t want to put this book down and I will admit I postponed finishing it the day before because I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye to the world and characters that Alyssa Villaire has created! This was even more action packed then book one! There was more drama and action! It was never slow or boring I was invested! It was such a great balance of everything and I’m not gonna lie, I wish she would write more books in this series! However, I do think its ending was perfect! I’m just sad it’s the end! Although I pray one day she will write at least one more book to see what all of the characters are up to when they are adults!
I want to than NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Author: Alyssa Villaire
Synopsis: Penny Emberly didn’t expect to fall head over heels for Alonso De Luca last summer—or to discover that he’s a witch. Together with their friend Corey Barrion, they managed to save her mother from a deadly spell. Now autumn has arrived, and Penny believes they can take on anything. But darkness is descending on the small town of Idlewood. Corey is desperate to undo the bloody legacy that made his family rich. The price, however, is to unravel the magical bargain made by his grandfather, Corey must take a life. As Corey wrestles with an impossible choice, Alonso begins to change. The more he pushes the limits of his magic, the more volatile, violent, and possessive he becomes. When tragedy strikes one of their classmates, the trio is forced to confront a terrifying is Alonso being consumed by something that’s bent on the destruction of everyone around him—especially Penny and Corey? As supernatural forces drive them apart, Penny, Corey, and Alonso must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice before more blood is spilled—even if it means losing each other.
Review: When it comes to sequels sometimes not always are not as good as the first book! In this case I loved reading this the entire time! There was never a dull moment I didn’t want to put this book down and I will admit I postponed finishing it the day before because I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye to the world and characters that Alyssa Villaire has created! This was even more action packed then book one! There was more drama and action! It was never slow or boring I was invested! It was such a great balance of everything and I’m not gonna lie, I wish she would write more books in this series! However, I do think its ending was perfect! I’m just sad it’s the end! Although I pray one day she will write at least one more book to see what all of the characters are up to when they are adults!
I want to than NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Leaving Idlewood behind feels like waking up from a fever dream that I never wanted it to end!!
After the way things were left hanging, I was desperate to get my hands on this conclusion to see if Penny, Alonso, and Corey could actually outrun the shadows of their families. The transition from the sweltering heat of the first book to this biting, crisp autumn air was such a mood, perfectly setting the stage for the much darker magic closing in on them.
The story drops us right back into the wreckage of that broken bargain.
Corey is essentially drowning in the guilt of the Barrion name, while Alonso is fighting a losing battle against the spirit of his grandfather. Watching Giovanni slowly try to turn Alonso into a vessel for his own twisted power was easily the most stressful part of the journey.
What really kept me hooked, though, was the distinct, electric chemistry Penny shares with both of them.
- With Alonso, it is that intense, soul-deep connection that feels so fragile under the weight of his possession.
- With Corey, she has this jagged, magnetic tension. They are both so broken by the shared trauma they’ve endured which ends up with them reaching for each other in the dark causing an unpredictable pull between them.
I am giving this a solid four stars because even though the middle felt a bit slow with all the internal brooding, the payoff was worth every second. The ending was honestly perfect. After all the chaos and the terrifying possibility of losing Alonso to his grandfather’s ghost, the way everything wrapped up felt so incredibly right. It tied up every loose end and gave the story the closure I was craving, leaving me feeling satisfied rather than haunted. It is rare to find a finale that clears the air so completely, making it feel like the sun has finally come up over Idlewood for good.
> Tropes:
● Star-Crossed Lovers
● Gothic Small Town
● Body Possession
● Layered Chemistry
● Love Triangle
● The Cost of Magic
● Found Family
*Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC*
After the way things were left hanging, I was desperate to get my hands on this conclusion to see if Penny, Alonso, and Corey could actually outrun the shadows of their families. The transition from the sweltering heat of the first book to this biting, crisp autumn air was such a mood, perfectly setting the stage for the much darker magic closing in on them.
The story drops us right back into the wreckage of that broken bargain.
Corey is essentially drowning in the guilt of the Barrion name, while Alonso is fighting a losing battle against the spirit of his grandfather. Watching Giovanni slowly try to turn Alonso into a vessel for his own twisted power was easily the most stressful part of the journey.
What really kept me hooked, though, was the distinct, electric chemistry Penny shares with both of them.
- With Alonso, it is that intense, soul-deep connection that feels so fragile under the weight of his possession.
- With Corey, she has this jagged, magnetic tension. They are both so broken by the shared trauma they’ve endured which ends up with them reaching for each other in the dark causing an unpredictable pull between them.
I am giving this a solid four stars because even though the middle felt a bit slow with all the internal brooding, the payoff was worth every second. The ending was honestly perfect. After all the chaos and the terrifying possibility of losing Alonso to his grandfather’s ghost, the way everything wrapped up felt so incredibly right. It tied up every loose end and gave the story the closure I was craving, leaving me feeling satisfied rather than haunted. It is rare to find a finale that clears the air so completely, making it feel like the sun has finally come up over Idlewood for good.
> Tropes:
● Star-Crossed Lovers
● Gothic Small Town
● Body Possession
● Layered Chemistry
● Love Triangle
● The Cost of Magic
● Found Family
*Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the sequel The Glittering Edge deserves! I was lucky enough to win a copy of the first novel in this duology back in November at YALC and I absolutely devoured it so quickly. At that point, I knew we were getting a sequel so I had been waiting for this very badly, even if just for a few months. And once I got it, I just flew through, as with the first installment. The way Alyssa Villaire writes, it is just so easy to read and addictive putting the book down is almost physically painful. So yes, I started reading Sunday morning and by the evening, I was already through, reeling in the buzz The Neon Sky gave me.
The world of The Glittering Edge is already established super well in the first book, but in The Neon Sky, Villaire does manage to add new flare and details to enrich it even more. The characters, too, get to grow and become even more than they were before. We get to see more relationships explored and more of the side characters, though, no matter how much of Naomi we got in The Neon Sky, I will say it will never be enough for me, I just love her so much and would read anything about her. But anyway, overall every character gets a lot of room to shine in this book which I always love. More lore to magic is added and it's so intriguing. Everything is super fast paced, yet things wrap up perfectly, in my opinion, and there is enough, but not too much closure.
Summarizing, I loved The Neon Sky and adore the whole duology. Despite constantly aging more and more out of the intended YA age range, this book felt perfect for me and I absolutely recommend it to readers of any age that love magic and found family. Can't wait to see what Villaire writes next!
Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children's | Penguin NetGalley, for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and views expressed are my own.
The world of The Glittering Edge is already established super well in the first book, but in The Neon Sky, Villaire does manage to add new flare and details to enrich it even more. The characters, too, get to grow and become even more than they were before. We get to see more relationships explored and more of the side characters, though, no matter how much of Naomi we got in The Neon Sky, I will say it will never be enough for me, I just love her so much and would read anything about her. But anyway, overall every character gets a lot of room to shine in this book which I always love. More lore to magic is added and it's so intriguing. Everything is super fast paced, yet things wrap up perfectly, in my opinion, and there is enough, but not too much closure.
Summarizing, I loved The Neon Sky and adore the whole duology. Despite constantly aging more and more out of the intended YA age range, this book felt perfect for me and I absolutely recommend it to readers of any age that love magic and found family. Can't wait to see what Villaire writes next!
Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children's | Penguin NetGalley, for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and views expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alyssa Villaire for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
I’m going to be really honest: I’m genuinely sad to say that I wish this book had worked better for me.
After reading Glittering Edge, I was so excited about the possibilities this sequel could explore. The potential for deeper relationships, stronger friendships, higher stakes, and more intense rivalries sounded incredible.
Sadly, the execution just didn’t fully come together for me.
A lot of the story felt driven by miscommunication, and combined with the love triangle elements, the overall dynamic started to feel frustrating rather than compelling. Around the 30% mark was when I had my first major “what is happening?” moment, and from there, the pacing and direction of the story started to lose me.
It often felt like not much was actually happening, and when conflict did arise, it mostly came from characters refusing to communicate with each other. Unfortunately, that made the story feel repetitive at times and difficult for me to stay emotionally invested in.
What makes this more disappointing is that I can clearly see the idea of what this book wanted to be, and there were aspects of the premise I genuinely liked. I just sadly don’t think the execution fully delivered on that potential.
I’ll be giving this a 3-star rating on Goodreads and NetGalley, though personally it sits closer to a 2.5-star read for me.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alyssa Villaire for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
I’m going to be really honest: I’m genuinely sad to say that I wish this book had worked better for me.
After reading Glittering Edge, I was so excited about the possibilities this sequel could explore. The potential for deeper relationships, stronger friendships, higher stakes, and more intense rivalries sounded incredible.
Sadly, the execution just didn’t fully come together for me.
A lot of the story felt driven by miscommunication, and combined with the love triangle elements, the overall dynamic started to feel frustrating rather than compelling. Around the 30% mark was when I had my first major “what is happening?” moment, and from there, the pacing and direction of the story started to lose me.
It often felt like not much was actually happening, and when conflict did arise, it mostly came from characters refusing to communicate with each other. Unfortunately, that made the story feel repetitive at times and difficult for me to stay emotionally invested in.
What makes this more disappointing is that I can clearly see the idea of what this book wanted to be, and there were aspects of the premise I genuinely liked. I just sadly don’t think the execution fully delivered on that potential.
I’ll be giving this a 3-star rating on Goodreads and NetGalley, though personally it sits closer to a 2.5-star read for me.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alyssa Villaire for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
May 23, 2026
I would just like to say that the author of this book is a very cruel woman. The way she made me fall in love with these characters, only to rip my heart to shreds by throwing every terrible thing imaginable at them, should honestly be studied.
This was such an infuriating book, but I mean that in the best way possible. Just like the first book, I couldn't put it down, and whenever I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. I devoured every page while rooting deeply for everyone.
The character arcs really took off in the sequel. While I didn't especially like Corey in the first book, I was surprised to find him really growing on me in this one. The dynamic between Penny, Alonso, and Corey definitely changed, but I love how it ultimately helped them grow as characters. I can't say too much about my favorite, Alonso, because of spoilers, but trust me when I say his character arc was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions.
We were also introduced to some new characters who expanded this universe, and I think there is massive potential for spin-off books in the future. Personally, I would love to see a spin-off about Dylan. She had one of the most interesting character arcs throughout this duology, and there is so much more to explore there.
I also have to give a shout-out to Nibble the mighty warrior. She deserves all the cat treats! Actually, she deserves a book of her own, legends should be written in her name!
Overall, this was an amazing conclusion to a stunning witchy duology and one of my favorite reads of the year. The only thing that could've made it even better would've been more Alonso, but that's a given. I highly recommend picking this duology up if you're a fan of Hocus Pocus, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and small-town mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an infuriating book, but I mean that in the best way possible. Just like the first book, I couldn't put it down, and whenever I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. I devoured every page while rooting deeply for everyone.
The character arcs really took off in the sequel. While I didn't especially like Corey in the first book, I was surprised to find him really growing on me in this one. The dynamic between Penny, Alonso, and Corey definitely changed, but I love how it ultimately helped them grow as characters. I can't say too much about my favorite, Alonso, because of spoilers, but trust me when I say his character arc was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions.
We were also introduced to some new characters who expanded this universe, and I think there is massive potential for spin-off books in the future. Personally, I would love to see a spin-off about Dylan. She had one of the most interesting character arcs throughout this duology, and there is so much more to explore there.
I also have to give a shout-out to Nibble the mighty warrior. She deserves all the cat treats! Actually, she deserves a book of her own, legends should be written in her name!
Overall, this was an amazing conclusion to a stunning witchy duology and one of my favorite reads of the year. The only thing that could've made it even better would've been more Alonso, but that's a given. I highly recommend picking this duology up if you're a fan of Hocus Pocus, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and small-town mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2026
I wanted to love this book, and oh my god I did.
I adored it.
The Neon Sky picks up perfectly and immediately after the cliff-hanger of The Glittering Edge. We're thrust quickly into a whole new dynamic with the three friends and how their friendship has been affected through recent events. Alonso is moving further away from Penny, without giving her reasoning while Corey fights with his growing feelings for her. Aside from all that there's the possession of Alonso to contend with.
Penny and Corey need to enlist the help of Milton's sister to try and find a resolution to Alonso's predicament but also to end the curse that blights Coreys family.
There are twists and turns galore in this and honestly they are perfect. Nothing is overdone or far retched and the characters are written, not just perfect for this book but perfect for the age range and environment that they are in. I was constantly feeling for them, not once disliking them and really enjoyed understanding Corey's family and why they interact the way they do.
The setting is described perfectly giving you that spooky small town Sabrina vibe and I genuinely found myself wishing i could spend just one day there.
Some sequels struggle but this was executed perfectly. The conclusion of the story was so satisfying and wrapped up in the plot and such a good way. I was gutted for the story to end. I think if this is notification of Alyssa Villaire's writing style I will definitely be reading more of her stories.
I adored it.
The Neon Sky picks up perfectly and immediately after the cliff-hanger of The Glittering Edge. We're thrust quickly into a whole new dynamic with the three friends and how their friendship has been affected through recent events. Alonso is moving further away from Penny, without giving her reasoning while Corey fights with his growing feelings for her. Aside from all that there's the possession of Alonso to contend with.
Penny and Corey need to enlist the help of Milton's sister to try and find a resolution to Alonso's predicament but also to end the curse that blights Coreys family.
There are twists and turns galore in this and honestly they are perfect. Nothing is overdone or far retched and the characters are written, not just perfect for this book but perfect for the age range and environment that they are in. I was constantly feeling for them, not once disliking them and really enjoyed understanding Corey's family and why they interact the way they do.
The setting is described perfectly giving you that spooky small town Sabrina vibe and I genuinely found myself wishing i could spend just one day there.
Some sequels struggle but this was executed perfectly. The conclusion of the story was so satisfying and wrapped up in the plot and such a good way. I was gutted for the story to end. I think if this is notification of Alyssa Villaire's writing style I will definitely be reading more of her stories.
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