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The Unseelie Duology #1
Unseelie
The start of a swoony, high-energy duology that Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses , calls “reminiscent of classic fairytales yet brimming with a charm all its own.”
“A world of glimmering fae that sparkles with mystery, adventure, and enchantment.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed with Us
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde…but as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae as an infant, she has always known she is different. Seelie’s unpredictable magic makes it hard for her to fit in—and draws her and Isolde into the hunt for a fabled treasure. In a heist gone wrong, the sisters make some unexpected allies and find themselves unraveling a mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike.
Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?
“Housman’s stunning debut is the sort of love letter only an autistic author could write. Fae canon has been waiting for this one.” —H.E. Edgmon, author of The Witch King
“A world of glimmering fae that sparkles with mystery, adventure, and enchantment.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed with Us
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde…but as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae as an infant, she has always known she is different. Seelie’s unpredictable magic makes it hard for her to fit in—and draws her and Isolde into the hunt for a fabled treasure. In a heist gone wrong, the sisters make some unexpected allies and find themselves unraveling a mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike.
Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?
“Housman’s stunning debut is the sort of love letter only an autistic author could write. Fae canon has been waiting for this one.” —H.E. Edgmon, author of The Witch King
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2023
198 people are currently reading
27749 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 878 reviews
January 14, 2023
AUTISTIC MC
AUTISTIC MC
AUTISTIC MC
AUTISTIC MC
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--
Honestly, as an autistic human, I feel very seen by Seelie's (the main character's) responses to stimuli, emotions, and relationships in this novel. I am incredibly happy to see neurodiversity, especially autism, being represented more and more in literature these days, ESPECIALLY when it is done by an neurodivergent author. I will say that it's quite sad to see some of the early reviewers making assumptions about Seelie's identity in the comments. I think the most important thing about consuming literature with neurodivergent or minority characters is to let the characters' experiences speak for themselves and LEARN something. If you aren't autistic yourself, you should not be adding your opinions to what either does or doesn't make an autistic character and then proceed to complain about the actual autistic traits they have as being "annoying"--this is blatant ignorance paired with harmful stereotyping. It is not creating space for acceptance--it is actively denying it.
Please respect these authors and let them tell their stories as it is not your story to tell.
--
This was a wonderful fantasy novel with a great cast of characters that I hope is eventually turned into a series. It certainly seems as if the ending indicates as much. Perhaps I'll return to this review and write more when I'm less heated by peoples' biases and ignorance. :)
AUTISTIC MC
AUTISTIC MC
AUTISTIC MC
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--
Honestly, as an autistic human, I feel very seen by Seelie's (the main character's) responses to stimuli, emotions, and relationships in this novel. I am incredibly happy to see neurodiversity, especially autism, being represented more and more in literature these days, ESPECIALLY when it is done by an neurodivergent author. I will say that it's quite sad to see some of the early reviewers making assumptions about Seelie's identity in the comments. I think the most important thing about consuming literature with neurodivergent or minority characters is to let the characters' experiences speak for themselves and LEARN something. If you aren't autistic yourself, you should not be adding your opinions to what either does or doesn't make an autistic character and then proceed to complain about the actual autistic traits they have as being "annoying"--this is blatant ignorance paired with harmful stereotyping. It is not creating space for acceptance--it is actively denying it.
Please respect these authors and let them tell their stories as it is not your story to tell.
--
This was a wonderful fantasy novel with a great cast of characters that I hope is eventually turned into a series. It certainly seems as if the ending indicates as much. Perhaps I'll return to this review and write more when I'm less heated by peoples' biases and ignorance. :)
May 25, 2023
—🍂 4 stars 🍂—
“She’s still my sister. My best friend. No matter what happens, what changes, we will always love each other.
And we’ll always come back for each other.”
————about the book————
Age: YA
Genres: fantasy, faeries, folklore, disability representation,
Writing: 9/10
Quotes: 7/10
World building: 7/10
Characters: 9/10
Romance: 7/10
My rating: 8/10
———my thoughts———
Twin sisters, Iselia (Seelie) and Isolde (Sol) are on the run.
But while they might be twins, they couldn’t be more different.
While Seelie looks just like her twin, she is a Autistic changeling trying to master her magic and fit into the world that doesn’t understand her.
But when Seelie and Sol get caught up in a heist, they make some unexpected allies, and fall into a mystery that reaches beyond the now, and back into the history of humans and changelings...
I have a soft spot for YA fantasy, and I don’t think I will ever grow out of it.
There’s just this inherent pureness, this happiness, this freeing feeling.
They’re the books I want to read curled up in bed with hot chocolate.
And this book was everything I wanted it to be.
It was fun, it was cute, it had a lot of depth, and I loved it.
What first drew me in was the writing.
Right away, we’re thrown into this human world. But it’s not just human...there’s the faerie realm too.
And I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
I love the unearthly faeries. The one who look different, the ones who have this otherness, this strangeness to them.
And faeries like that were here, yes.
But then we have Seelie.
And she looks human. She’s a changeling, someone who behaves differently, a child of the faeries.
I immediately loved Seelie.
Her relationship with her sister, Sol, felt very realistic to me. They both protect each other and love each other, but still fight and bicker.
The side characters, Raze and Olani took a while for me (and Seelie) to like them.
I was very unsure of Raze as a love interest at the start, but as soon as they became friends, I quickly came to love their banter and cuteness.
The mystery aspect and adventure were all a little hazy, and I had to reread bits of the final chapter to understand, but the whole journey was enjoyable and sweet.
And before reading this book I had no idea of the theory that the changeling myths were inspired by neurodivergent children.
This is what inspired Seelie and her world.
When I picked up the book, I knew that the main character was autistic. However, what I didn’t know was how the author would handle it.
And I think she did beautifully.
There were little references here and there, but it was just quietly stated and not made a fuss of, and I liked that.
Representation is so important in books, and I think it was very well done here.
Seelie isn’t defined by her autism, she’s just Seelie.
In the author’s note, she explains that she wrote Unseelie to show that “Too many autistic people go undiagnosed, without supports, for far too long, because we don’t fit the image of What Autism Should Look Like. Because, of course, there’s no such thing.”
Her note made me tear up, especially the end “You are exactly the way you were meant to be, and you’re the hero of your own story.”
I hope anyone who’s ever felt wrong, or like they don’t belong reads that, and finally feels right.
Because it’s true, even when the world feels like it’s against you, and everything hurts.
You’re going to be ok. You’re not wrong, you’re just unique.
————quotes————
“I don’t want Raze to kiss some other girl—I mean, any girl. Anyone. I’m not jealous, because in order to be jealous of something, you have to want it yourself, I definitely do not want...”
“I believe you have something that belongs to me, changeling.”
“If you can only love a child that exists within the boundaries of your expectations—if you would harm them to make them what you want—then you have no business being a parent at all.”
“My own memories fold me in like heavy blankets, pulled up over my head by unfamiliar hands and a soft, freezing voice.”
————songs————
Deep end -Birdy
Bad dream -Ruelle
Be kind -Halsey
———random extra thoughts———
I love the cover so much!
Thanks for reading!❤️
——————
My gorgeous Deema, thank you for being the sweet angel you are and buddy reading this with me!
I’m so glad we both liked it, and I can’t wait to read something else with you, bby!❤️❤️❤️
——————
“She’s still my sister. My best friend. No matter what happens, what changes, we will always love each other.
And we’ll always come back for each other.”
————about the book————
Age: YA
Genres: fantasy, faeries, folklore, disability representation,
Writing: 9/10
Quotes: 7/10
World building: 7/10
Characters: 9/10
Romance: 7/10
My rating: 8/10
———my thoughts———
Twin sisters, Iselia (Seelie) and Isolde (Sol) are on the run.
But while they might be twins, they couldn’t be more different.
While Seelie looks just like her twin, she is a Autistic changeling trying to master her magic and fit into the world that doesn’t understand her.
But when Seelie and Sol get caught up in a heist, they make some unexpected allies, and fall into a mystery that reaches beyond the now, and back into the history of humans and changelings...
I have a soft spot for YA fantasy, and I don’t think I will ever grow out of it.
There’s just this inherent pureness, this happiness, this freeing feeling.
They’re the books I want to read curled up in bed with hot chocolate.
And this book was everything I wanted it to be.
It was fun, it was cute, it had a lot of depth, and I loved it.
What first drew me in was the writing.
Right away, we’re thrown into this human world. But it’s not just human...there’s the faerie realm too.
And I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
I love the unearthly faeries. The one who look different, the ones who have this otherness, this strangeness to them.
And faeries like that were here, yes.
But then we have Seelie.
And she looks human. She’s a changeling, someone who behaves differently, a child of the faeries.
I immediately loved Seelie.
Her relationship with her sister, Sol, felt very realistic to me. They both protect each other and love each other, but still fight and bicker.
The side characters, Raze and Olani took a while for me (and Seelie) to like them.
I was very unsure of Raze as a love interest at the start, but as soon as they became friends, I quickly came to love their banter and cuteness.
The mystery aspect and adventure were all a little hazy, and I had to reread bits of the final chapter to understand, but the whole journey was enjoyable and sweet.
And before reading this book I had no idea of the theory that the changeling myths were inspired by neurodivergent children.
This is what inspired Seelie and her world.
When I picked up the book, I knew that the main character was autistic. However, what I didn’t know was how the author would handle it.
And I think she did beautifully.
There were little references here and there, but it was just quietly stated and not made a fuss of, and I liked that.
Representation is so important in books, and I think it was very well done here.
Seelie isn’t defined by her autism, she’s just Seelie.
In the author’s note, she explains that she wrote Unseelie to show that “Too many autistic people go undiagnosed, without supports, for far too long, because we don’t fit the image of What Autism Should Look Like. Because, of course, there’s no such thing.”
Her note made me tear up, especially the end “You are exactly the way you were meant to be, and you’re the hero of your own story.”
I hope anyone who’s ever felt wrong, or like they don’t belong reads that, and finally feels right.
Because it’s true, even when the world feels like it’s against you, and everything hurts.
You’re going to be ok. You’re not wrong, you’re just unique.
————quotes————
“I don’t want Raze to kiss some other girl—I mean, any girl. Anyone. I’m not jealous, because in order to be jealous of something, you have to want it yourself, I definitely do not want...”
“I believe you have something that belongs to me, changeling.”
“If you can only love a child that exists within the boundaries of your expectations—if you would harm them to make them what you want—then you have no business being a parent at all.”
“My own memories fold me in like heavy blankets, pulled up over my head by unfamiliar hands and a soft, freezing voice.”
————songs————
Deep end -Birdy
Bad dream -Ruelle
Be kind -Halsey
———random extra thoughts———
I love the cover so much!
Thanks for reading!❤️
——————
My gorgeous Deema, thank you for being the sweet angel you are and buddy reading this with me!
I’m so glad we both liked it, and I can’t wait to read something else with you, bby!❤️❤️❤️
——————
February 21, 2023
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Inkyard Press). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Autistic main character
✅ Strong sisterly bond
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Magic and changelings
✅ Cruel and ruthless faes
✅ Pace
✅ Action and magic
✅ Plot
Seelie is a changeling who has been living on the roads with her twin human sister Isolde for the past 3 years. Seelie always struggled to fit in and interact with the humans around her, enhancing the unease of the villagers in her hometown, and even making them sacred of her. That is why she decided to leave with her sister, in the hopes of finding a way to get rich and have the means to start a new life with their parents in a place where nobody would be afraid of Seelie and judge her family for accepting her and caring for her. After a heist goes wrong, the two girls end up being on the run and forced to collaborate with two strangers to survive and escape the enchanter who’s after them. They might even be able to find a treasure if they are clever and quick enough to survive.
Seelie and Isolde ran away because of Seelie’s changeling nature. Seelie was placed in Isolde’s home as a baby, and Isolde was taken to Faerie, but Isolde’s mother managed to travel to Faerie, get Isolde back, and decided to keep Seelie too as her adoptive daughter. While Seelie’s family loves her and understands that there is nothing to fear from her, the villagers are afraid of Seelie and her magic, and her family becomes outcast because of that. It gets even worse when Seelie’s magic starts to act out and Seelie struggles to control it, making people even more afraid of her.
I understood from the wonderful and very touching author’s note at the beginning of the book that she wanted to write a book where neurodivergent people would be represented in a way that didn’t make them appear as a different category of people or like they are struggling to live a “normal” life. I am not neurodivergent myself, so I am in no way able to tell if the author did a good job or not in that aspect (although seeing as the author is neurodivergent, I would assume that she knows what she’s talking about). Maybe the official diagnosis would be different, but I will go on a limb and say that she is an autistic character, although this diagnosis does not exist in the world she lives in. We could see through Seelie’s eyes and thoughts that her reactions to certain stimuli were different from what is usually expected from someone, and she struggled with decoding inferred ideas and second meanings, but we could also see how human she was, and how her differences only meant that she had to deal differently with certain situations, and process data in a different way, nothing more. It is also enlightening to see things from Seelie’s point of view and to understand how things that seem minor to others can have a huge impact on her.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. They are flawed and it leads to some heated arguments and fights between them. I like that they were forced to work together because they had similar goals, but they didn’t like each other at all at first, they grew on each other with time because they had to rely on each other to survive. The sisterly bond between Seelie and Isolde was also heartwarming and so strong. Having a younger sister myself, I have a soft spot for stories with sisters that are close to each other and have each other’s back, and Isolde and Seelie were a perfect example of sisters that would go through hell for each other.
The world-building resembles many of the fantasy settings I’ve seen in the past, but there is also the presence of other Faerie realms that reminded me more of the Cruel Prince setting, with ruthless faes that take pleasure in tormenting and taking advantage of humans. It was a nice mix, and while it could have been more detailed, it was well-developed enough to keep me interested and immersed in the book until the end.
There were some of the usual YA fantasy tropes in this book, but the fact that it was told from Seelie’s point of view, with her particular interpretation gave those tropes a different twist. What would usually have been a hate-to-love is instead a hate-to-trust-to-I-kinda-enjoy-your-presence-even-if-I-don’t-know-how-to-deal-with-those-new-feelings, which was great because while I am a sucker for a good hate-to-love romance, it’s also become something that is almost to be expected in any fantasy YA book, and it’s just so predictable most of the time, almost overused.
Overall, this was a very nice adventure with a good pace, an intriguing plot and world-building and just enough answers to keep us hooked, and just enough questions left to make us want to read the sequel when it comes out. It is not the best YA fantasy I’ve read, but it is a solid debut, and I definitely recommend it to any fantasy lover looking for changelings tales with ruthless faes, a ragtag group thrown together and forced to cooperate, and a quest to find a treasure with magical fights along the way.
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✅ Autistic main character
✅ Strong sisterly bond
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Magic and changelings
✅ Cruel and ruthless faes
✅ Pace
✅ Action and magic
✅ Plot
Seelie is a changeling who has been living on the roads with her twin human sister Isolde for the past 3 years. Seelie always struggled to fit in and interact with the humans around her, enhancing the unease of the villagers in her hometown, and even making them sacred of her. That is why she decided to leave with her sister, in the hopes of finding a way to get rich and have the means to start a new life with their parents in a place where nobody would be afraid of Seelie and judge her family for accepting her and caring for her. After a heist goes wrong, the two girls end up being on the run and forced to collaborate with two strangers to survive and escape the enchanter who’s after them. They might even be able to find a treasure if they are clever and quick enough to survive.
They’re good people. Honest people. And they aren’t safe as long as I’m around. So we left three years ago to run from city to city, to steal and cheat and lie and scratch out a living, telling ourselves it would be justified. It would all be worth it when we had enough to make our family a new home.
Seelie and Isolde ran away because of Seelie’s changeling nature. Seelie was placed in Isolde’s home as a baby, and Isolde was taken to Faerie, but Isolde’s mother managed to travel to Faerie, get Isolde back, and decided to keep Seelie too as her adoptive daughter. While Seelie’s family loves her and understands that there is nothing to fear from her, the villagers are afraid of Seelie and her magic, and her family becomes outcast because of that. It gets even worse when Seelie’s magic starts to act out and Seelie struggles to control it, making people even more afraid of her.
I understood from the wonderful and very touching author’s note at the beginning of the book that she wanted to write a book where neurodivergent people would be represented in a way that didn’t make them appear as a different category of people or like they are struggling to live a “normal” life. I am not neurodivergent myself, so I am in no way able to tell if the author did a good job or not in that aspect (although seeing as the author is neurodivergent, I would assume that she knows what she’s talking about). Maybe the official diagnosis would be different, but I will go on a limb and say that she is an autistic character, although this diagnosis does not exist in the world she lives in. We could see through Seelie’s eyes and thoughts that her reactions to certain stimuli were different from what is usually expected from someone, and she struggled with decoding inferred ideas and second meanings, but we could also see how human she was, and how her differences only meant that she had to deal differently with certain situations, and process data in a different way, nothing more. It is also enlightening to see things from Seelie’s point of view and to understand how things that seem minor to others can have a huge impact on her.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. They are flawed and it leads to some heated arguments and fights between them. I like that they were forced to work together because they had similar goals, but they didn’t like each other at all at first, they grew on each other with time because they had to rely on each other to survive. The sisterly bond between Seelie and Isolde was also heartwarming and so strong. Having a younger sister myself, I have a soft spot for stories with sisters that are close to each other and have each other’s back, and Isolde and Seelie were a perfect example of sisters that would go through hell for each other.
The faeries spend as little time in our world as possible, and mortals can only enter the Seelie and Unseelie Realms through faerie-made portals. It’s better this way. Except for those of us with a foot in each world, yet belonging in neither.
The world-building resembles many of the fantasy settings I’ve seen in the past, but there is also the presence of other Faerie realms that reminded me more of the Cruel Prince setting, with ruthless faes that take pleasure in tormenting and taking advantage of humans. It was a nice mix, and while it could have been more detailed, it was well-developed enough to keep me interested and immersed in the book until the end.
“It’s not fair,” I say, without thinking. But I don’t pull away. I glare up at him, wanting him to see the damage all this has done to me. For the first time, I notice the faint splash of freckles on his nose and peppering his cheeks. “Not for me.”
“No,” he agrees softly, tracing the silvery design with featherlight fingertips. “Getting you involved was definitely a mistake.” He gives me another diagonal half smile before letting my hand drop. It’s nice to agree on something for once.
There were some of the usual YA fantasy tropes in this book, but the fact that it was told from Seelie’s point of view, with her particular interpretation gave those tropes a different twist. What would usually have been a hate-to-love is instead a hate-to-trust-to-I-kinda-enjoy-your-presence-even-if-I-don’t-know-how-to-deal-with-those-new-feelings, which was great because while I am a sucker for a good hate-to-love romance, it’s also become something that is almost to be expected in any fantasy YA book, and it’s just so predictable most of the time, almost overused.
Overall, this was a very nice adventure with a good pace, an intriguing plot and world-building and just enough answers to keep us hooked, and just enough questions left to make us want to read the sequel when it comes out. It is not the best YA fantasy I’ve read, but it is a solid debut, and I definitely recommend it to any fantasy lover looking for changelings tales with ruthless faes, a ragtag group thrown together and forced to cooperate, and a quest to find a treasure with magical fights along the way.
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October 11, 2022
Seelie is a changeling who, unlike her human twin Isolde, finds it difficult to fit in with the humans that surround her. This became especially difficult when her magic began to make an appearance, breaking through at unexpected times and causing people to fear her. Together, the sisters left home with the goal of becoming rich enough to move themselves and their parents to a place free of judgment. But when a heist goes wrong, they become entangled with two others who have similar goals. As they race against a powerful magician to find treasure and answers, Seelie struggles to come to terms with her origins and her magic.
I absolutely loved this book! While it did follow some standard fantasy tropes, the author made them feel new and fresh. The worldbuilding was excellent. Getting glimpses into the fairy realms left me wanting more! The author also excelled at including meaningful descriptions that made the setting and the story immersive.
The characters were quite strong. They were well written and felt like real people. I enjoyed the bond of the sisters but that they still had some intense fights (relatable!). The exploration of Seelie’s history and how it altered her interactions with people was a strong aspect of her character that I enjoyed. I also loved that the group was thrown together by circumstance and similar goals, which made for some interesting and tense interactions.
There was a good bit of information withheld during the first half of the book that was then slowly revealed as the story went on. The author paced this wonderfully, giving the reader enough information to keep them interested but still leaving plenty of questions and intrigue for the next book.
I have no complaints about this book and highly recommend it! My thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read and review this awesome work of fantasy that will be published on January 3rd, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I absolutely loved this book! While it did follow some standard fantasy tropes, the author made them feel new and fresh. The worldbuilding was excellent. Getting glimpses into the fairy realms left me wanting more! The author also excelled at including meaningful descriptions that made the setting and the story immersive.
The characters were quite strong. They were well written and felt like real people. I enjoyed the bond of the sisters but that they still had some intense fights (relatable!). The exploration of Seelie’s history and how it altered her interactions with people was a strong aspect of her character that I enjoyed. I also loved that the group was thrown together by circumstance and similar goals, which made for some interesting and tense interactions.
There was a good bit of information withheld during the first half of the book that was then slowly revealed as the story went on. The author paced this wonderfully, giving the reader enough information to keep them interested but still leaving plenty of questions and intrigue for the next book.
I have no complaints about this book and highly recommend it! My thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read and review this awesome work of fantasy that will be published on January 3rd, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 18, 2023
This review and others @Bookerification
Rating: 2.5 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This gorgeous cover gives a fierce illustration of Seelie and her sister Isolde. Besides this, the lovely colour scheme and details make the design even more stunning.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟
Vivid descriptions effortlessly establish a creative world and undercurrent of tension. However, I struggled with the regular information dumping and shallow worldbuilding, especially regarding the fairy realms and powers.
"Magic has a cruel sense of humor"
Storyline: 🌟🌟.5
As the world and characters are introduced, bursts of action keep the story engaging and make for a promising start. Sadly, the adventure is soon bogged down by backstories and excessive details that slow the story's pace, so I found it hard to stay invested.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Seelie is an interesting protagonist whose autism is shown rather than told. Readers are given lots to consider through her struggles and how she is perceived by other characters. Yet, even with the tiny character development she experiences, I failed to connect with her character as she seemed selfish and monotonous.
"People with common sense are rare"
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟
The eclectic bunch who journey with Seelie possess different strengths that enable them to work well together. While they are also given distinct personalities and sad backstories, I thought these lacked substance and struggled to relate to the characters.
Romance: 🌟🌟
Despite initial sparks, the romance that played out seemed forced, and there was little to make me root for the characters. It was not until the story approached the climax and the characters worked closely together that I finally began believing the developing romance.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟
Elena Rey's narration was lovely, and I liked the different voices given to the characters. However, I wished more was done to enhance the story through the narration and audio.
In short, 'Unseelie' was an easy, magic-filled read with a thought-provoking representation of autism. Although the slow pace and simple characters made it difficult for me to remain invested in the story, the foundation was laid for a strong sequel. Those who loved this should check out Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty for another mix of mystery, romance and magic, plus a great representation of schizophrenia.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This gorgeous cover gives a fierce illustration of Seelie and her sister Isolde. Besides this, the lovely colour scheme and details make the design even more stunning.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟
Vivid descriptions effortlessly establish a creative world and undercurrent of tension. However, I struggled with the regular information dumping and shallow worldbuilding, especially regarding the fairy realms and powers.
"Magic has a cruel sense of humor"
Storyline: 🌟🌟.5
As the world and characters are introduced, bursts of action keep the story engaging and make for a promising start. Sadly, the adventure is soon bogged down by backstories and excessive details that slow the story's pace, so I found it hard to stay invested.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Seelie is an interesting protagonist whose autism is shown rather than told. Readers are given lots to consider through her struggles and how she is perceived by other characters. Yet, even with the tiny character development she experiences, I failed to connect with her character as she seemed selfish and monotonous.
"People with common sense are rare"
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟
The eclectic bunch who journey with Seelie possess different strengths that enable them to work well together. While they are also given distinct personalities and sad backstories, I thought these lacked substance and struggled to relate to the characters.
Romance: 🌟🌟
Despite initial sparks, the romance that played out seemed forced, and there was little to make me root for the characters. It was not until the story approached the climax and the characters worked closely together that I finally began believing the developing romance.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟
Elena Rey's narration was lovely, and I liked the different voices given to the characters. However, I wished more was done to enhance the story through the narration and audio.
In short, 'Unseelie' was an easy, magic-filled read with a thought-provoking representation of autism. Although the slow pace and simple characters made it difficult for me to remain invested in the story, the foundation was laid for a strong sequel. Those who loved this should check out Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty for another mix of mystery, romance and magic, plus a great representation of schizophrenia.
July 17, 2022
new comfort read unlocked !! rtc
April 21, 2023
*4.5
Edit for reread: I'm glad I decide to reread this one. I thought it was just being alluded to that Seelie being a changeling was a metaphor for her autism, but the author clearly states in the author's note that changelings are a way of discussing people's perspectives of undiagnosed autistic people. I love this!! I'm so glad it was explicitly talked about on the page.
Also, a further edit to my previous review. I said that I didn't feel as if I related to Seelie that much, even though we share a lot of mannerisms (which is fine cause not all autistic people are the same obviously), but in this read through, I connected with her a lot more. Not sure why, if it was the audio or what, but I'm glad I got to experience that connection. I know I'm not going to relate to every autistic character, but because there's been so few portrayals of autism and even fewer that I can relate to, having those that I can, feels groundbreaking to me, so I'm excited that I can add another one I relate to that I'll probably reread over and over again.
Original review:
As soon as I discovered Unseelie would be a YA Fantasy novel featuring a female autistic MC, I knew I had to read it. Excitingly, there has been an increase in fiction featuring autistic characters in the last year—however, there are still very few books with autistic characters that aren’t actually about autism or aren’t contemporary. As much as I love reading contemporary novels, I was thrilled to hear about this fantasy book, which follows Seelie, an autistic changeling, and her twin sister Isolde.
Something I found interesting about Unseelie is the allegory for changelings. Seelie is autistic, and this is mentioned in the synopsis, but her being a changeling is also a clear metaphor for autism, or any sort of difference deemed so by society. As a changeling, Seelie constantly feels othered and isolated from those around her. There’s a quote in the book about how people see changelings as less than human, how they don’t feel any empathy, and when the changeling child doesn’t turn out exactly as the parent wants, they resent the child’s existence. This is unfortunately an opinion a lot of society shares about autistic people. I love that the book used Seelie being a changeling to describe her autism, because I feel like it’ll be a good way to educate those who are unfamiliar with it, or those who are misinformed, about the kinds of things autistic people go through daily.
In regard to Seelie herself, my heart broke for her. The situations she was thrust into must have been an absolute nightmare for her. As someone who thrives on routine and consistency, Seelie’s life was flipped upside down time and time again. She had a hard time coping with these sudden changes, which can be seen in the form of meltdowns, shutdowns, and issues controlling her emotions throughout the book. Those around Seelie are never entirely sure how to help her when she’s overstimulated, which makes it even more difficult for her to cope. Even so, she’s determined to reunite her family and preservers with her head held high. I can’t describe how happy it made me to see a strong character who is crazy powerful dealing with something like overstimulation. We need to see more of this kind of rep!
While I did love Seelie’s character and her journey (which I thought was authentically and realistically portrayed!), I didn’t relate to her as much as I expected to, since we share a lot of mannerisms. Our personalities are very different, which is why I think I had a harder time connecting to her. Even so, this didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book, or her character. It was just something I’d been hoping for.
Aside from her character, though, the plot of Unseelie was well-developed with some exciting twists and turns woven in throughout. I enjoyed the first fifty percent of the book, but it was the last fifty percent that had me on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. A specific plot line happens (sorry for being vague—I don’t want to spoil anything) that was at the same time both fun and nerve-wracking, and from there, the anticipation kept rising.
The only part of this book that I didn’t love was the building romance between Seelie and Raze. It wasn’t until the last thirty percent that I finally bought into the fact they cared for each other more than sort of friends and begrudging allies. I like their dynamic a lot, but I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it if they become involved romantically. Part of me is hoping their friendship will be focused on first before a romantic relationship, should there be a sequel.
Speaking of, I’m desperately hoping for a sequel to Unseelie! There’s still a lot of questions I have left, and so much more to be explored, both through Seelie and her sister Isolde. I haven’t heard anything about it yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Overall, I really enjoyed Unseelie, and I’m so happy to have authentic autism representation in a fantasy book. I hope to see even more soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Edit for reread: I'm glad I decide to reread this one. I thought it was just being alluded to that Seelie being a changeling was a metaphor for her autism, but the author clearly states in the author's note that changelings are a way of discussing people's perspectives of undiagnosed autistic people. I love this!! I'm so glad it was explicitly talked about on the page.
Also, a further edit to my previous review. I said that I didn't feel as if I related to Seelie that much, even though we share a lot of mannerisms (which is fine cause not all autistic people are the same obviously), but in this read through, I connected with her a lot more. Not sure why, if it was the audio or what, but I'm glad I got to experience that connection. I know I'm not going to relate to every autistic character, but because there's been so few portrayals of autism and even fewer that I can relate to, having those that I can, feels groundbreaking to me, so I'm excited that I can add another one I relate to that I'll probably reread over and over again.
Original review:
As soon as I discovered Unseelie would be a YA Fantasy novel featuring a female autistic MC, I knew I had to read it. Excitingly, there has been an increase in fiction featuring autistic characters in the last year—however, there are still very few books with autistic characters that aren’t actually about autism or aren’t contemporary. As much as I love reading contemporary novels, I was thrilled to hear about this fantasy book, which follows Seelie, an autistic changeling, and her twin sister Isolde.
Something I found interesting about Unseelie is the allegory for changelings. Seelie is autistic, and this is mentioned in the synopsis, but her being a changeling is also a clear metaphor for autism, or any sort of difference deemed so by society. As a changeling, Seelie constantly feels othered and isolated from those around her. There’s a quote in the book about how people see changelings as less than human, how they don’t feel any empathy, and when the changeling child doesn’t turn out exactly as the parent wants, they resent the child’s existence. This is unfortunately an opinion a lot of society shares about autistic people. I love that the book used Seelie being a changeling to describe her autism, because I feel like it’ll be a good way to educate those who are unfamiliar with it, or those who are misinformed, about the kinds of things autistic people go through daily.
In regard to Seelie herself, my heart broke for her. The situations she was thrust into must have been an absolute nightmare for her. As someone who thrives on routine and consistency, Seelie’s life was flipped upside down time and time again. She had a hard time coping with these sudden changes, which can be seen in the form of meltdowns, shutdowns, and issues controlling her emotions throughout the book. Those around Seelie are never entirely sure how to help her when she’s overstimulated, which makes it even more difficult for her to cope. Even so, she’s determined to reunite her family and preservers with her head held high. I can’t describe how happy it made me to see a strong character who is crazy powerful dealing with something like overstimulation. We need to see more of this kind of rep!
While I did love Seelie’s character and her journey (which I thought was authentically and realistically portrayed!), I didn’t relate to her as much as I expected to, since we share a lot of mannerisms. Our personalities are very different, which is why I think I had a harder time connecting to her. Even so, this didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book, or her character. It was just something I’d been hoping for.
Aside from her character, though, the plot of Unseelie was well-developed with some exciting twists and turns woven in throughout. I enjoyed the first fifty percent of the book, but it was the last fifty percent that had me on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. A specific plot line happens (sorry for being vague—I don’t want to spoil anything) that was at the same time both fun and nerve-wracking, and from there, the anticipation kept rising.
The only part of this book that I didn’t love was the building romance between Seelie and Raze. It wasn’t until the last thirty percent that I finally bought into the fact they cared for each other more than sort of friends and begrudging allies. I like their dynamic a lot, but I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it if they become involved romantically. Part of me is hoping their friendship will be focused on first before a romantic relationship, should there be a sequel.
Speaking of, I’m desperately hoping for a sequel to Unseelie! There’s still a lot of questions I have left, and so much more to be explored, both through Seelie and her sister Isolde. I haven’t heard anything about it yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Overall, I really enjoyed Unseelie, and I’m so happy to have authentic autism representation in a fantasy book. I hope to see even more soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 1, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
If you are looking for a fun fantasy novel with own voices autism representation, Unseelie is a fantastic choice! Based on the theory that "changelings" were really just how people talked about autistic children in the past, this follows a changeling teen girl named Seelie and her "twin" sister as they are on the run from people afraid of Seelie and inadvertently get caught up in some magical trouble. This book has lots of dangerous fae, a really well-done sister relationship, a bit of romance, and a teen girl coming of age and trying to accept who she is, even the parts that feel difficult and scary. Seelie is meant to be autistic and even if that word isn't used, the reader gets to live in her head with the way she feels and responds to the world around her. I really liked this and think it's a very strong debut. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
If you are looking for a fun fantasy novel with own voices autism representation, Unseelie is a fantastic choice! Based on the theory that "changelings" were really just how people talked about autistic children in the past, this follows a changeling teen girl named Seelie and her "twin" sister as they are on the run from people afraid of Seelie and inadvertently get caught up in some magical trouble. This book has lots of dangerous fae, a really well-done sister relationship, a bit of romance, and a teen girl coming of age and trying to accept who she is, even the parts that feel difficult and scary. Seelie is meant to be autistic and even if that word isn't used, the reader gets to live in her head with the way she feels and responds to the world around her. I really liked this and think it's a very strong debut. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
January 5, 2023
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
Um literally can’t stop crying over the author’s note regarding how people see autism & how it is so, so much more than that… and so many of us go undiagnosed because we feel we don’t fit the “mold” society makes autism out to be, or that our friends &/or family will shrug it off as ridiculous. The autism spectrum is SO BROAD, and there is NO ONE DAMN WAY THAT IT “LOOKS”!
*screams into the ether really quickly*
This book was truly fantastic. I’m just a whole hot mess after reading the authors note sooo RTC bc brb sobbbbbbing.
Um literally can’t stop crying over the author’s note regarding how people see autism & how it is so, so much more than that… and so many of us go undiagnosed because we feel we don’t fit the “mold” society makes autism out to be, or that our friends &/or family will shrug it off as ridiculous. The autism spectrum is SO BROAD, and there is NO ONE DAMN WAY THAT IT “LOOKS”!
*screams into the ether really quickly*
This book was truly fantastic. I’m just a whole hot mess after reading the authors note sooo RTC bc brb sobbbbbbing.
January 24, 2023
Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman is a young adult fantasy novel featuring a world of the fae. This young adult fantasy does have a slight twist to it in that the main character falls on the autism spectrum bringing this very real subject into the fantasy world.
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove is a changling that was given to her human mother as an infant. When Seelie’s mother discovered this fact she could not give Seelie back to the fae but yet raised her as her own along with her human twin in their human world but life for Seelie has not always been easy fitting into that world.
Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman does seem to be a standalone fantasy but the author could have easily continued on with these characters and made it into a full series. I loved that the author mirrored the main character after herself and gave a voice to her own feelings over the years in such a creative way of a fantasy novel. The story flowed well and was easy to dive into as I got to know the world and characters. After reading I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove is a changling that was given to her human mother as an infant. When Seelie’s mother discovered this fact she could not give Seelie back to the fae but yet raised her as her own along with her human twin in their human world but life for Seelie has not always been easy fitting into that world.
Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman does seem to be a standalone fantasy but the author could have easily continued on with these characters and made it into a full series. I loved that the author mirrored the main character after herself and gave a voice to her own feelings over the years in such a creative way of a fantasy novel. The story flowed well and was easy to dive into as I got to know the world and characters. After reading I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 27, 2022
I was really excited to see that one of the main characters is a changeling fae girl who is autistic. Part of me wishes it hadn’t been the changeling who fit this diagnosis since in this world they’re seen as less than human and that seemed a little on the nose for me, but I do like that she is strong with so many magical talents. And everyone should be able to look at a magical hero and see themselves sometime. Seelie (an unfortunate nickname that is at least recognized) is a changeling, but her human parents adopted her and raised her and her human twin sister, Isolde. Forced to leave their home and their parents they are getting by with Isolde’s thievery skills. They are presented with an opportunity they literally cannot refuse which sets them off on an adventure to find an magical treasure that will have the power to set them free and allow them to return home. All four characters had great potential but only Seelie felt truly developed well enough. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
May 27, 2022
I can honestly say that I have read this book more times than any other, and it isn't close.
Read
February 17, 2023Thank you to Inkyard Press for an ARC of this book!
Unseelie is a brilliant and captivating debut that follows the well-trodden and familiar path taken by modern YA fantasy while adding its own unique perspective.
It follows Seelie and Isolde, twin sisters - one a changeling, one a human - who have been living on the road after running away from home, when they find themselves with some unexpected allies on a journey for a hidden treasure trove. But along the way, they discover secrets about themselves and the faerie realm that may change everything.
As I mentioned, Unseelie isn't quite your everyday fantasy. Housman has taken the standard recipe for fae adventure stories, and turned it on its head by using the faerie realms, and more specifically, changeling lore to discuss ableism and eugenics, both within fantasy and within our own realm. This commentary doesn't feel particularly heavy or deep, but rather is lightly scattered into the world and the experiences of the characters, which I think works really well for the age-range of this book's audience. It is often approached through our main character, as she constantly dispels assumptions and limitations that the world has placed onto her as a changeling, creating a nuanced and human-centered critique that subverts otherwise harmful tropes.
And a big part of the way the main character is able to confront these tropes is through what I think is the most important element of this story: its autistic rep. This book is first and foremost, an outstretched hand to autistic children everywhere who deserve to see themselves represented in media, especially by an autistic creator. In the Author's Note, Housman divulges her own history with lacking representation and her hopes and dreams for what Unseelie can be for autistic readers, and I have to say: I think she succeeded. Autistic representation is so often told from an outsider's perspective. And not just by the literal creator of those stories, but the lenses in which those stories are viewed. The window into the world is usually a parent or a friend, as though the creator assumes that the audience requires a bridge into the world, as if they would be unable to relate or sympathize with the autistic character directly. And often, those stories feature a very specific type of autism, rather than covering diversity along the spectrum. In making these choices, it often continues to "other" the autistic individuals represented, sort of holding them at arm's length. That is what makes this story, Seelie's story, so revolutionary. Especially in fantasy worlds. Because it doesn't just feature an autistic character, but rather, places her at the heart and the helm of this story. We view the world through her eyes, in her mind, without watering-down her experiences or excusing away her perspective. The audience, autistic and non-autistic alike, are given not just a fantasy heroine's journey, but an AUTISTIC fantasy heroine's journey. From start to finish. She experiences meltdowns, going nonverbal, food repulsion, emotional overwhelm, overstimulation, etc. And as she dispels myth about changelings, she dispels myths about autism.
I also have to give a kudos to the slow-burn romance. Because this is what I mean pacing-wise when I say I want a slow-burn romance.
Overall, I think this was not only a really fun and adventurous book (that I couldn't put down!) but a crucial story that adds a much needed perspective into the canon of faerie-centric YA fantasy. I can't wait to see how Seelie's journey continues in the future installment(s). (Also... I think I'm sensing a sapphic side relationship on its way!)
CW: fantasy eugenics & ableism, violence, blood & gore, death, fire, drowning, mind control, parental loss, injury detail, dead bodies, death, emesis, alcohol
Unseelie is a brilliant and captivating debut that follows the well-trodden and familiar path taken by modern YA fantasy while adding its own unique perspective.
It follows Seelie and Isolde, twin sisters - one a changeling, one a human - who have been living on the road after running away from home, when they find themselves with some unexpected allies on a journey for a hidden treasure trove. But along the way, they discover secrets about themselves and the faerie realm that may change everything.
As I mentioned, Unseelie isn't quite your everyday fantasy. Housman has taken the standard recipe for fae adventure stories, and turned it on its head by using the faerie realms, and more specifically, changeling lore to discuss ableism and eugenics, both within fantasy and within our own realm. This commentary doesn't feel particularly heavy or deep, but rather is lightly scattered into the world and the experiences of the characters, which I think works really well for the age-range of this book's audience. It is often approached through our main character, as she constantly dispels assumptions and limitations that the world has placed onto her as a changeling, creating a nuanced and human-centered critique that subverts otherwise harmful tropes.
And a big part of the way the main character is able to confront these tropes is through what I think is the most important element of this story: its autistic rep. This book is first and foremost, an outstretched hand to autistic children everywhere who deserve to see themselves represented in media, especially by an autistic creator. In the Author's Note, Housman divulges her own history with lacking representation and her hopes and dreams for what Unseelie can be for autistic readers, and I have to say: I think she succeeded. Autistic representation is so often told from an outsider's perspective. And not just by the literal creator of those stories, but the lenses in which those stories are viewed. The window into the world is usually a parent or a friend, as though the creator assumes that the audience requires a bridge into the world, as if they would be unable to relate or sympathize with the autistic character directly. And often, those stories feature a very specific type of autism, rather than covering diversity along the spectrum. In making these choices, it often continues to "other" the autistic individuals represented, sort of holding them at arm's length. That is what makes this story, Seelie's story, so revolutionary. Especially in fantasy worlds. Because it doesn't just feature an autistic character, but rather, places her at the heart and the helm of this story. We view the world through her eyes, in her mind, without watering-down her experiences or excusing away her perspective. The audience, autistic and non-autistic alike, are given not just a fantasy heroine's journey, but an AUTISTIC fantasy heroine's journey. From start to finish. She experiences meltdowns, going nonverbal, food repulsion, emotional overwhelm, overstimulation, etc. And as she dispels myth about changelings, she dispels myths about autism.
I also have to give a kudos to the slow-burn romance. Because this is what I mean pacing-wise when I say I want a slow-burn romance.
Overall, I think this was not only a really fun and adventurous book (that I couldn't put down!) but a crucial story that adds a much needed perspective into the canon of faerie-centric YA fantasy. I can't wait to see how Seelie's journey continues in the future installment(s). (Also... I think I'm sensing a sapphic side relationship on its way!)
CW: fantasy eugenics & ableism, violence, blood & gore, death, fire, drowning, mind control, parental loss, injury detail, dead bodies, death, emesis, alcohol
January 25, 2023
a bit disappointed but it was all together a pretty fun read
rtc
edit: I meet the author today! She was so sweet- my arc hasn't come in the mail yet but now I'm even more excited eeeeeee
I WON A PHYSICAL ARC FOR THIS I'M SO EXCITED!!
rtc
edit: I meet the author today! She was so sweet- my arc hasn't come in the mail yet but now I'm even more excited eeeeeee
I WON A PHYSICAL ARC FOR THIS I'M SO EXCITED!!
February 24, 2023
What an incredible debut!!
THE STRIKE HAS ENDED REVIEW TO COME!!!
Rep: Autistic Latina cis female MC, Latina cis female side character, Black cis female side character, white cishet male side character (also a shapeshifter), various fae side characters.
CWs: Violence, ableism, bullying, blood, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail. Moderate: death, violence, murder, past child abuse recounted (side character), confinement. Minor: death of parent, suicidal thoughts, alcohol consumption (faerie wine).
THE STRIKE HAS ENDED REVIEW TO COME!!!
Rep: Autistic Latina cis female MC, Latina cis female side character, Black cis female side character, white cishet male side character (also a shapeshifter), various fae side characters.
CWs: Violence, ableism, bullying, blood, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail. Moderate: death, violence, murder, past child abuse recounted (side character), confinement. Minor: death of parent, suicidal thoughts, alcohol consumption (faerie wine).
December 11, 2022
Seelie has a very different life than the family who has raised her. That is because as a changeling she has magic, unlike her human twin sister, Isolde, and parents. An odd existence, every reader will think when they open the book Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman, a book that will be released January 3, to help ring in the New Year. And, it is a book every book lover needs on their shelf.
The two sisters are now petty thieves, pickpockets, Seelie taking the memory of their presence from their parents, for their own protection, when the two set out to change their bad fortune. Problems begin when the twins set out to heighten their criminal status, during Revelnox, when they sneak into a party for the wealthy, a party they were definitely not invited to. Leira Wildfall, a shapeshifter, is the host of the party and comes from a long line of influential, mortal enchanters that can change their form into whatever they want it to be. And, the family does not take kindly to being victimized, will seek and punish anyone who does this to them. What will they do to the twins if they are caught during their crime, or, after?
At the Wildfall mansion, where the party is held, Isolde takes her sister to a room that can only be opened with four hands, that is, after picking the locked door. Inside they find something that could possibly change their fortune but definitely change their lives, forever. And, when this object becomes a part of Seelie, seemingly, because of her magic, the twins have to flee all they have known since leaving their parents house years before and set out to, once again, find a change of fortune. While they hope their theft will be able to bring them home, with money to save their parents, where Seelie can restore their bottle memories of the daughter's they no longer know, what the pair must endure because of what they have done, may forever keep them from attaining their goal and they may now never be able to return home.
A chance meeting during the theft introduces Raze and Olani, a mysterious pair who seem to have had the same idea as Isolde and Seelie. They too wanted to abscond with something, during the party, from the Wildfall's. The twins beat them to it, only to be caught by them later. What are their true motivations for wanting to be with the twins? In the end, will they be the ones to stand in the way of the girls getting what they desire? And, what will the ramifications be, if any, for Seelie sharing her secret with Raze?
In their flight from all they know, the object begins to talk to Seelie. He begins to ask her about her magic and, as she tries to shut the voice out, it continues to come, more and more, guiding the pair. But, where? Will it really be a treasure like they all believe? Or, does the compass want something more? If so, what could it be? And, could this voice be a person guiding them to commit dangerous acts that could have major repercussions for everyone, mortal and magical alike?
Of everything in the book though, a flashback to when the girls were younger, when they meet Cassius Redbrook, was my favorite and most emotive part of the book. It is when we learn of why the girls parents were going through hard times, all due to discrimination for them having raised a changeling as their child. For when their friends, neighbors and community found out, the family's struggles began. Readers find out how Seelie stood up to a "snake oil salesman" (how I perceived the character), a charlatan who only created more problems in his pursuit of the almighty coin.
Ivelisse Housman, in Unseelie, teaches readers that even in a dystopian society motivations remain the same, as does discriminatory actions of those who are scared of anything different or unknown. And, while these were not the actions of the girl's parents, those who they lived amongst, seemed shameful as they did not support raising a changeling as a child, that it was undesirable, unwanted. All issues that readers can relate to, just like so many others that are present here, in this enlightened tale.
Another issue dealt with in the book, on top of many others, is one we don't see many writers focus on when choosing a mental illness for a character in a story. Usually when a psychological problem is chosen, inflicted on the character, all the negativity is instilled with it. Readers rarely, if ever, find a writer pointing out the positive aspects, or, better said, the strengths that can be found in having a diagnosable mental health issue.
Seelie is autistic, as well as having all her characteristics, and the way in which she deals with the aspects of her diagnosis in the story, gives all those with this problem hope. If Seelie can overcome her many hurdles and battles, so can others, with the same affliction. And, you don't have to be autistic to learn something from the book. Anyone overcoming something burdensome in their life can learn something here, in a timeless story you can't miss out on.
Happy Reading!
The two sisters are now petty thieves, pickpockets, Seelie taking the memory of their presence from their parents, for their own protection, when the two set out to change their bad fortune. Problems begin when the twins set out to heighten their criminal status, during Revelnox, when they sneak into a party for the wealthy, a party they were definitely not invited to. Leira Wildfall, a shapeshifter, is the host of the party and comes from a long line of influential, mortal enchanters that can change their form into whatever they want it to be. And, the family does not take kindly to being victimized, will seek and punish anyone who does this to them. What will they do to the twins if they are caught during their crime, or, after?
At the Wildfall mansion, where the party is held, Isolde takes her sister to a room that can only be opened with four hands, that is, after picking the locked door. Inside they find something that could possibly change their fortune but definitely change their lives, forever. And, when this object becomes a part of Seelie, seemingly, because of her magic, the twins have to flee all they have known since leaving their parents house years before and set out to, once again, find a change of fortune. While they hope their theft will be able to bring them home, with money to save their parents, where Seelie can restore their bottle memories of the daughter's they no longer know, what the pair must endure because of what they have done, may forever keep them from attaining their goal and they may now never be able to return home.
A chance meeting during the theft introduces Raze and Olani, a mysterious pair who seem to have had the same idea as Isolde and Seelie. They too wanted to abscond with something, during the party, from the Wildfall's. The twins beat them to it, only to be caught by them later. What are their true motivations for wanting to be with the twins? In the end, will they be the ones to stand in the way of the girls getting what they desire? And, what will the ramifications be, if any, for Seelie sharing her secret with Raze?
In their flight from all they know, the object begins to talk to Seelie. He begins to ask her about her magic and, as she tries to shut the voice out, it continues to come, more and more, guiding the pair. But, where? Will it really be a treasure like they all believe? Or, does the compass want something more? If so, what could it be? And, could this voice be a person guiding them to commit dangerous acts that could have major repercussions for everyone, mortal and magical alike?
Of everything in the book though, a flashback to when the girls were younger, when they meet Cassius Redbrook, was my favorite and most emotive part of the book. It is when we learn of why the girls parents were going through hard times, all due to discrimination for them having raised a changeling as their child. For when their friends, neighbors and community found out, the family's struggles began. Readers find out how Seelie stood up to a "snake oil salesman" (how I perceived the character), a charlatan who only created more problems in his pursuit of the almighty coin.
Ivelisse Housman, in Unseelie, teaches readers that even in a dystopian society motivations remain the same, as does discriminatory actions of those who are scared of anything different or unknown. And, while these were not the actions of the girl's parents, those who they lived amongst, seemed shameful as they did not support raising a changeling as a child, that it was undesirable, unwanted. All issues that readers can relate to, just like so many others that are present here, in this enlightened tale.
Another issue dealt with in the book, on top of many others, is one we don't see many writers focus on when choosing a mental illness for a character in a story. Usually when a psychological problem is chosen, inflicted on the character, all the negativity is instilled with it. Readers rarely, if ever, find a writer pointing out the positive aspects, or, better said, the strengths that can be found in having a diagnosable mental health issue.
Seelie is autistic, as well as having all her characteristics, and the way in which she deals with the aspects of her diagnosis in the story, gives all those with this problem hope. If Seelie can overcome her many hurdles and battles, so can others, with the same affliction. And, you don't have to be autistic to learn something from the book. Anyone overcoming something burdensome in their life can learn something here, in a timeless story you can't miss out on.
Happy Reading!
August 8, 2025
This is a Young Adult fantasy that reframes changeling children and the idea of autism and being different.
I loved that no one judged Seelie and just accepted her as she was, even saw her differences as strengths.
I really appreciated the author’s note that explains her reasoning for the story.
However, I think I have read too many YA fantasies for this to stand out or offer anything new except for the representation.
I couldn’t buy into the romance and didn’t connect to the characters despite my high hopes.
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I loved that no one judged Seelie and just accepted her as she was, even saw her differences as strengths.
I really appreciated the author’s note that explains her reasoning for the story.
However, I think I have read too many YA fantasies for this to stand out or offer anything new except for the representation.
I couldn’t buy into the romance and didn’t connect to the characters despite my high hopes.
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December 1, 2022
I was so excited for this one! Let's see how it shook out!
What I liked about the book:
1. I was definitely drawn in by the cover! The colors, the sisterly bond, the badass stances. It all screamed “PICK ME UP AND DEVOUR ME!”
2. I’m a sucker for a good ragtag group trying to solve problems and overthrow the government/monarchy, which this book definitely had in spades. I also liked that the characters were strategic and good at their own things, but they ALSO got their asses handed to them plenty of times. They weren’t all invincible and time and time again it showed with the circumstances they ended up in.
3. I liked the characters for the most part, though I felt they were rather surface-level except Seelie.
Seelie is the underdog main character for sure. She has been misunderstood and a misfit her whole life because of being a changeling and because of being on the spectrum. I loved how the author was able to show little signs of Seelie being autistic without ever addressing it directly; being an autistic writer, she definitely knew what she was doing when she showed us rather than told us. It was creatively and wonderfully done. My problems with Seelie came down to she was boring and a bit selfish at times. This for the main character along with some pacing issues we’ll talk about in a bit, left a lot to be desired for me.
Isolde reminds me so much of my best friend, Michelle. She is fierce, she is patient, and she is a little ruffian! I wish we got more insight into her character, as I felt she was always being overshadowed by Seelie.
Olani was just flat-out a badass. I loved seeing her militant fighting style, but then also seeing her tenderly heal others. It was such a good juxtaposition for her character and I wanted more! I also have this really BIG need for her and Isolde to end up together!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! Again, I felt we only scratched the surface of her character unfortunately.
Finally, I liked that Raze, who I can only assume is going to be Seelie’s love interest in book 2, was not the “typical” hulking hero. Yes, the boy was strong, but he was also a little round and had stark red hair…so basically I pictured a less insufferable Ron Weasley the whole time. This, along with his humor and grin, had me loving him for Seelie instantly!
What could have been better:
1. As mentioned previously, I felt none of the characters were dove into satisfactorily, except Seelie who was almost unbearable for me at times.
2. “The start of a swoony, high-energy duology”…I call bullshit on this descriptor. There was no swoon because there was no confirmed love interests. This was also definitely not high-energy. The pacing at times left me fighting the urge to skim or left me rereading several paragraphs I zoned out during. Never a good sign, but especially bad when you advertise as “high-energy”.
3. Sisters in a strange, magical world where everything and everyone isn’t as it/they seem? I feel like I’ve read this book before…there was nothing really original about the plot and there are so many other books in this arena that are breathtakingly done that it’s unfair to compare…but someone has to!
Final Thoughts: Heavy YA, heavy fantasy. Read if you enjoyed The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.
Final Rating: 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Ivelisse Housman for the free copy of this e-ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
What I liked about the book:
1. I was definitely drawn in by the cover! The colors, the sisterly bond, the badass stances. It all screamed “PICK ME UP AND DEVOUR ME!”
2. I’m a sucker for a good ragtag group trying to solve problems and overthrow the government/monarchy, which this book definitely had in spades. I also liked that the characters were strategic and good at their own things, but they ALSO got their asses handed to them plenty of times. They weren’t all invincible and time and time again it showed with the circumstances they ended up in.
3. I liked the characters for the most part, though I felt they were rather surface-level except Seelie.
Seelie is the underdog main character for sure. She has been misunderstood and a misfit her whole life because of being a changeling and because of being on the spectrum. I loved how the author was able to show little signs of Seelie being autistic without ever addressing it directly; being an autistic writer, she definitely knew what she was doing when she showed us rather than told us. It was creatively and wonderfully done. My problems with Seelie came down to she was boring and a bit selfish at times. This for the main character along with some pacing issues we’ll talk about in a bit, left a lot to be desired for me.
Isolde reminds me so much of my best friend, Michelle. She is fierce, she is patient, and she is a little ruffian! I wish we got more insight into her character, as I felt she was always being overshadowed by Seelie.
Olani was just flat-out a badass. I loved seeing her militant fighting style, but then also seeing her tenderly heal others. It was such a good juxtaposition for her character and I wanted more! I also have this really BIG need for her and Isolde to end up together!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! Again, I felt we only scratched the surface of her character unfortunately.
Finally, I liked that Raze, who I can only assume is going to be Seelie’s love interest in book 2, was not the “typical” hulking hero. Yes, the boy was strong, but he was also a little round and had stark red hair…so basically I pictured a less insufferable Ron Weasley the whole time. This, along with his humor and grin, had me loving him for Seelie instantly!
What could have been better:
1. As mentioned previously, I felt none of the characters were dove into satisfactorily, except Seelie who was almost unbearable for me at times.
2. “The start of a swoony, high-energy duology”…I call bullshit on this descriptor. There was no swoon because there was no confirmed love interests. This was also definitely not high-energy. The pacing at times left me fighting the urge to skim or left me rereading several paragraphs I zoned out during. Never a good sign, but especially bad when you advertise as “high-energy”.
3. Sisters in a strange, magical world where everything and everyone isn’t as it/they seem? I feel like I’ve read this book before…there was nothing really original about the plot and there are so many other books in this arena that are breathtakingly done that it’s unfair to compare…but someone has to!
Final Thoughts: Heavy YA, heavy fantasy. Read if you enjoyed The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.
Final Rating: 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Ivelisse Housman for the free copy of this e-ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 20, 2023
Unseelie is a dreamy and utterly enchanting YA fantasy that explores the themes of self discovery, sisterhood and found family in such a breathtakingly compelling fashion—examining faerie lore through a unique lens and treating us to an exquisite, action packed and thoroughly moving adventure I didn’t want to put down!
With wicked fae, shape shifting love interests and a cat shaped brownie I absolutely adored—not to mention a brave and compelling autistic protagonist in Seelie, YA fantasy fans definitely need to add this to your TBRs ASAP!
Written in the first person, Unseelie follows autistic changeling, Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove and her twin sister, Isolde as they stumble their way through realms (both human and fae) and a whole heap of trouble when a lucrative heist goes terribly wrong. I loved the dreamy, fairytale-esque quality to Ivelisse Houseman’s writing and the incredible detail that’s captured in the world building. Not to mention there’s dragons! From cute little pet dragons to guard dragons and firedrakes—I loved them all.
However, I think I loved the development and unique perspective of protagonist, Seelie the most. Given the complexity of her character as she struggles to accept her differences and fit in the the world (and people) around her.
As Houseman explains in her authors’ note at the start of her book, the lore surrounding changelings is theorised to be early explanation for autistic children—which really brings a level of insight & depth to Seelie’s character which I loved.
I really enjoyed delving into Seelie’s thought processes and emotions as she tries to conform to the “normal”societal norms and expectations everyone has of her. Getting to experience just how uncomfortable and overwhelming situations can be for her (and Houseman, who drew from her own experiences with autism) was both incredibly eye opening and utterly endearing.
The pacing is also a little slower as a result, but I really enjoyed the moments of reflection and processing of feelings/ emotions from Seelie’s POV—it’s not something we often get to experience first hand with a character and I genuinely really appreciated it.
The other characters were also quite interesting if not nearly as in depth as Seelie. I liked several of the supporting characters, especially Isolde (Seelie’s twin), Olani (an adventurer verse in healing magic) and Raze (Seelie’s shapeshifting and smooth talking love interest) and really enjoyed the banter, snarky dialogue and all around bond of friendship that we see grow between this rag-tag group—I definitely hope to see even more shenanigans in the sequel.
Overall, this was a really fun, magical and utterly insightful read full of incredible autism/ neurodivergent rep that fans of YA fantasy, the found family trope and Holly Black should definitely check out!
Also a huge thank you to Harper360ya/Inkyard Press for the arc.
With wicked fae, shape shifting love interests and a cat shaped brownie I absolutely adored—not to mention a brave and compelling autistic protagonist in Seelie, YA fantasy fans definitely need to add this to your TBRs ASAP!
Written in the first person, Unseelie follows autistic changeling, Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove and her twin sister, Isolde as they stumble their way through realms (both human and fae) and a whole heap of trouble when a lucrative heist goes terribly wrong. I loved the dreamy, fairytale-esque quality to Ivelisse Houseman’s writing and the incredible detail that’s captured in the world building. Not to mention there’s dragons! From cute little pet dragons to guard dragons and firedrakes—I loved them all.
However, I think I loved the development and unique perspective of protagonist, Seelie the most. Given the complexity of her character as she struggles to accept her differences and fit in the the world (and people) around her.
As Houseman explains in her authors’ note at the start of her book, the lore surrounding changelings is theorised to be early explanation for autistic children—which really brings a level of insight & depth to Seelie’s character which I loved.
I really enjoyed delving into Seelie’s thought processes and emotions as she tries to conform to the “normal”societal norms and expectations everyone has of her. Getting to experience just how uncomfortable and overwhelming situations can be for her (and Houseman, who drew from her own experiences with autism) was both incredibly eye opening and utterly endearing.
The pacing is also a little slower as a result, but I really enjoyed the moments of reflection and processing of feelings/ emotions from Seelie’s POV—it’s not something we often get to experience first hand with a character and I genuinely really appreciated it.
The other characters were also quite interesting if not nearly as in depth as Seelie. I liked several of the supporting characters, especially Isolde (Seelie’s twin), Olani (an adventurer verse in healing magic) and Raze (Seelie’s shapeshifting and smooth talking love interest) and really enjoyed the banter, snarky dialogue and all around bond of friendship that we see grow between this rag-tag group—I definitely hope to see even more shenanigans in the sequel.
Overall, this was a really fun, magical and utterly insightful read full of incredible autism/ neurodivergent rep that fans of YA fantasy, the found family trope and Holly Black should definitely check out!
Also a huge thank you to Harper360ya/Inkyard Press for the arc.
May 2, 2023
2023 reads: 65/350
2023 tbr: 22/100
made me cry so of course it gets an immediate five stars
this follows two twin sisters, “seelie” and isolde. seelie is a changeling whose human parents adopted her, but she never felt like she truly fit in. now, she’s on the run with her twin, trying to escape the enchanter following them.
it’s very rare i feel so incredibly seen by a main character, but seelie and i have so many similarities and it was honestly overwhelming at times. this book draws inspiration from the theory that the changeling myths stemmed from the people at the time not understanding autism—instead believing their “real” child was replaced with a sickly fairy. i loved how this book addressed that myth and how seelie’s autism was explored, despite that word never being used. this was a beautiful book and i’m very excited for the next one.
2023 tbr: 22/100
made me cry so of course it gets an immediate five stars
this follows two twin sisters, “seelie” and isolde. seelie is a changeling whose human parents adopted her, but she never felt like she truly fit in. now, she’s on the run with her twin, trying to escape the enchanter following them.
it’s very rare i feel so incredibly seen by a main character, but seelie and i have so many similarities and it was honestly overwhelming at times. this book draws inspiration from the theory that the changeling myths stemmed from the people at the time not understanding autism—instead believing their “real” child was replaced with a sickly fairy. i loved how this book addressed that myth and how seelie’s autism was explored, despite that word never being used. this was a beautiful book and i’m very excited for the next one.
February 27, 2023
Fantasy about fae isn't usually something I gravitate towards, haven't really got on the hype train for that one. But I was excited when I read that the MC was autistic and the lore and myths about changelings and autism. If I remember correctly it's never stated in the story that she has autism rather have her "uniqueness" explained by her being a changeling. Good plot and intresting characters to follow. 4.5 stars.
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July 21, 2023I hate myself, and the magic simmering within me, more than ever.
That, right there, is why I don't read much young adult anymore. By middle age, you've generally had enough time to come to terms with who you are and maybe realized that the ability to obliterate your enemies isn't all bad. I have sympathy for teenage and young adult existential struggles, but I don't necessarily need to read about them and all the attending angst.
DNF - 31%. I was attracted to Unseelie by the neurodivergent heroine and the beautiful cover, which kind of looks like a cross between the work of Charles Vess and Trina Schart Hyman. I was hoping to find an unsociable heroine who was odd in similar ways that I am odd, and it's not at all the fault of this book that I didn't find it, other than our shared dislike of being touched and love of routine. I liked that its basic premise comes straight from history - the tradition of calling odd, possibly autistic, people changelings. I liked the way main character Seelie's processes and reactions are never labeled as autistic - and, since the perspective of the book is hers, never seem anomalous.
These were not sufficient to entice me to continue. I don't love the flimsy worldbuilding or the constant chaos as Seelie and her human twin (that her mother walked into the faerie court to demand back - come on, that should have been a bigger story) make their way in the world through petty thievery and magic-as-propane until they stumble on something way out of their league. I wasn't thrilled with the drama and angst, but the biggest reason I stoped is that I'm very, very sure that I would not have loved the romance with someone who exudes all the charisma of a burnt piece of toast.
The writing is a bit weak ("My twin has materialized, as if out of nowhere" - surely that's what materialized means?), my eye was starting to bounce from italicised word to italicised word on any given page, and the banter is, to this middle-aged person's eyes, on the painful side:
"Well, what were you doing there, changeling?"
"Don't call me that," I say, ignoring the question.
After a lingering pause, he lets out a little snort. "Well, if I can't call you that, and I can't call you Seelie, then what am I allowed to call you?"
"How about you just don't talk to me at all?" I suggest.
"Ah, but you're the one who started this conversation, Iselia."
Right? What are they, eight?
However, I am sympathetic to their enchanted vehicle's running away. You know things have hit rock bottom when your car decides to leave you.
Want to read
December 4, 2022Autistic lead (and a girl with autism at that!! which is so rare to see in media!!) in a fantasy I am begging for an ARC-
UPDATE: GOT AN ARC FROM A LOCAL BOOKSTORE LET'S GOOOOO
UPDATE: GOT AN ARC FROM A LOCAL BOOKSTORE LET'S GOOOOO
November 26, 2022
The second I heard about Unseelie having an autistic protagonist, written by Ivelisse Housman, an autistic author, and being a YA Fantasy dealing with a new take on a familiar myth, I had to grab it as soon as I could. Along with interesting magic in a dangerous road trip for treasure with fun characters, it was one of the most relatable books I've read, with an autistic own voices protagonist that connected with me in a way many stories didn't when it features an autistic character and won't forget it anytime soon.
If you've been around autism circles long enough, you'll likely run into a modified version of the faerie changeling myth, where non-autistic children are taken away and replaced with autistic ones. Housman takes this myth and runs with it, with the protagonist, Iselia, aka Seelie, being the changeling twin of her human sister, Isolde. Being a changeling comes with magic, which is mostly out of Seelie's control and has caused them much trouble all throughout her life. While autism isn't said in the novel's text due to the fantasy setting, there's a note at the start by Housman about how autism has shaped her and Seelie's lives. Plus, the text is peppered with the first hand autistic experience, with things like stimming, texture sensitivity, feeling different, and that's only the start. I actually made a list of as many references as I found while reading, and I understood them on a personal level. It’s nothing like the typical mainstream media portrayal and I loved it.
The sister relationship was another highlight, as the two are very close, and both wish to reunite with their parents and get enough treasure to start over away from the village they were cast out of. While both sisters have their strengths and weaknesses, it's clear each has their roles. While it's common that autistic people and characters are infantilized, it's far from that here, as Seelie is capable on her own and Isolde more for support and helping her through social interactions. Plus, there's very interesting developments on their relationship as the story continues, fighting included, and Seelie has to deal with her chaotic magic.
The other characters were great as well, especially Olani and Raze, the latter getting a chunk of development later in the story, and I really felt for Raze. I knew he was love interest material the second he showed up, and is fun in his own way with his shape shifting powers and casual teasing of Seelie and the two growing in their friendship. I especially loved the antagonists, all terrifying and threatening in their own way and nuanced.
As mentioned, this world is full of magic and faeries, with it coming in all types throughout the novel. It's presented with just enough change that those familiar with fae myths will find something new and those unfamiliar will understand how these types of settings work. The faerie land segments were my favorites in terms of setting and it felt, hate to be cliche, magical. Plus, there's dragons in this book! The prose is descriptive, immersive, and yet witty at the same time, which is just perfect in my eyes, especially when one is on a road trip in a fantasy world. Though I noticed some details I suspect will be important for book two. The plot also moves at a nice pace, not sticking around a single spot for too long as we have a nice mix of action and character development.
The ending wraps up a few storylines, but most of the resolution is left for the second half of this duology, especially with some of those last plot twists that got dropped in the last few chapters that had me reading multiple times to truly understand!
If you love road trip fantasy adventures with magical treasure, a grand theft, lots of hi-jinks and danger with lots of enemies to friends bonding, all from the eyes of an autistic protagonist, pick this up!
*I received an ARC from the publisher, Inkyard Press. All opinions are my own.*
If you've been around autism circles long enough, you'll likely run into a modified version of the faerie changeling myth, where non-autistic children are taken away and replaced with autistic ones. Housman takes this myth and runs with it, with the protagonist, Iselia, aka Seelie, being the changeling twin of her human sister, Isolde. Being a changeling comes with magic, which is mostly out of Seelie's control and has caused them much trouble all throughout her life. While autism isn't said in the novel's text due to the fantasy setting, there's a note at the start by Housman about how autism has shaped her and Seelie's lives. Plus, the text is peppered with the first hand autistic experience, with things like stimming, texture sensitivity, feeling different, and that's only the start. I actually made a list of as many references as I found while reading, and I understood them on a personal level. It’s nothing like the typical mainstream media portrayal and I loved it.
The sister relationship was another highlight, as the two are very close, and both wish to reunite with their parents and get enough treasure to start over away from the village they were cast out of. While both sisters have their strengths and weaknesses, it's clear each has their roles. While it's common that autistic people and characters are infantilized, it's far from that here, as Seelie is capable on her own and Isolde more for support and helping her through social interactions. Plus, there's very interesting developments on their relationship as the story continues, fighting included, and Seelie has to deal with her chaotic magic.
The other characters were great as well, especially Olani and Raze, the latter getting a chunk of development later in the story, and I really felt for Raze. I knew he was love interest material the second he showed up, and is fun in his own way with his shape shifting powers and casual teasing of Seelie and the two growing in their friendship. I especially loved the antagonists, all terrifying and threatening in their own way and nuanced.
As mentioned, this world is full of magic and faeries, with it coming in all types throughout the novel. It's presented with just enough change that those familiar with fae myths will find something new and those unfamiliar will understand how these types of settings work. The faerie land segments were my favorites in terms of setting and it felt, hate to be cliche, magical. Plus, there's dragons in this book! The prose is descriptive, immersive, and yet witty at the same time, which is just perfect in my eyes, especially when one is on a road trip in a fantasy world. Though I noticed some details I suspect will be important for book two. The plot also moves at a nice pace, not sticking around a single spot for too long as we have a nice mix of action and character development.
The ending wraps up a few storylines, but most of the resolution is left for the second half of this duology, especially with some of those last plot twists that got dropped in the last few chapters that had me reading multiple times to truly understand!
If you love road trip fantasy adventures with magical treasure, a grand theft, lots of hi-jinks and danger with lots of enemies to friends bonding, all from the eyes of an autistic protagonist, pick this up!
*I received an ARC from the publisher, Inkyard Press. All opinions are my own.*
April 24, 2023
I was super excited about this book because we don’t have that many autistic representation, and boy, was this a bad representation for autistic people.
MC is selfish, rude, and a bully. She doesn’t understand why she has to say sorry when she upsets someone, but she knows if she says sorry, she can get people to respond in the way she wants. She feels good about making her sister and friend upset. She feels good being angry and expressing that anger. She refuses to understand anything and only wants everyone to wrap their world around her. Make her the center or everyone’s reality. It’s all about her. What she wants. How she feels. How people talk to her. It all has to pander to her. I hated the main character for most of the book, but she got worse and worse so fast. I hated her character so much.
The love element in this is absolutely not needed, and it seems forced. An unnecessary check mark for YA. She’s not even nice to the guy that’s the love interest.
I wish we got to know more about the side characters that were not behind this horrible main character. You get nothing from them other than her shitty perspective.
This isn’t a good representation for autism. It’s more about a character that’s narcissistic and has BPD and really needs therapy.
Story, it’s a generic ya fantasy about faeries. That’s about as deep as it gets.
MC is selfish, rude, and a bully. She doesn’t understand why she has to say sorry when she upsets someone, but she knows if she says sorry, she can get people to respond in the way she wants. She feels good about making her sister and friend upset. She feels good being angry and expressing that anger. She refuses to understand anything and only wants everyone to wrap their world around her. Make her the center or everyone’s reality. It’s all about her. What she wants. How she feels. How people talk to her. It all has to pander to her. I hated the main character for most of the book, but she got worse and worse so fast. I hated her character so much.
The love element in this is absolutely not needed, and it seems forced. An unnecessary check mark for YA. She’s not even nice to the guy that’s the love interest.
I wish we got to know more about the side characters that were not behind this horrible main character. You get nothing from them other than her shitty perspective.
This isn’t a good representation for autism. It’s more about a character that’s narcissistic and has BPD and really needs therapy.
Story, it’s a generic ya fantasy about faeries. That’s about as deep as it gets.
January 20, 2023
Thank you to Harper360YA and Ivelisse Housman for this ARC!
February 4, 2023
I was so excited to read a fantasy book where the female MC is autistic, and boy oh boy it did not disappoint. Seelie is such a badass character who showed such great strength throughout the book. I can’t imagine it was easy for her being in some of the situations she was thrown into, especially with added autistic and sensory issues on top of that.
The plot was excellent and I enjoyed the other characters, though I was mostly focused on Seelie. I thoroughly enjoyed every second that I was immersed in this one. This book will forever have a special place in my heart.
Thank you to Harper 360 YA for sending me a proof of this one.
The plot was excellent and I enjoyed the other characters, though I was mostly focused on Seelie. I thoroughly enjoyed every second that I was immersed in this one. This book will forever have a special place in my heart.
Thank you to Harper 360 YA for sending me a proof of this one.
December 8, 2025
Ever since I was diagnosed, I’ve become extremely sensitive about how characters who are supposed to be autistic are represented in media. I’ve always felt that we are either a) infantilized or b) misrepresented, leading to misjudgment. This story, Unseelie, is probably one of my personal favorite representations. Not to mention it’s a fantasy novel too, my favorite genre. Though it does have that whole “big group traveling through the forest for most of the book” trope that I don’t like very much, but oh well. This was a cute read that reminded me a bit of The Cruel Prince (but better, as I didn’t really care for that series too much).
Pre-Reading Updates:
i saw female autistic main character and immediately pressed want to read omg
Pre-Reading Updates:
i saw female autistic main character and immediately pressed want to read omg
January 12, 2023
If I knew this was a series I would not have requested this. I won't be continuing it, I was pretty bored and didn't realize this was about faeries which I don't care for. Not a bad book but not for me!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Want to read
January 14, 2022autistic main character in a fantasy. 2023 will be my year
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