unseelie – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: Ivelisse Housman
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: September 23rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this high-octane conclusion to the Unseelie duology, two sisters discover that the things that make them different can lend them more power than they ever imagined.

Isolde Graygrove has always put her changeling twin sister first. But ever since Seelie returned from the faerie realms with a newfound confidence in her magic and secrets she’s keeping even from her twin, Isolde can’t help but wonder: who is she, if not her sister’s protector?

Seelie knows there are some problems even magic can’t solve. Like the distance between her and Isolde, the terror of her growing and unfamiliar emotions for Raze, or the fact that the world’s last firedrake has imprinted on her like a baby duckling. Still, she can’t help but try.

When Seelie accidentally splinters the three realms, tangling the human and faerie worlds together into something new, the vicious faerie Gossamer is determined to take full advantage of the chaos unleashed. Seelie and Isolde will need to spill their secrets, decide who they can trust, and navigate the sinister glamour of the faerie courts to save humankind and fae alike.

GOOD CONCLUSION.

I liked this one! It was a good hidden gem for young adult fantasy. The multiple POV dynamic worked well and I felt as if things wrapped up well and it was satisfying to finish the audiobook.

The strong bond between these sisters was my favorite part. I love seeing such a tight relationship and how the ups and downs don’t damage the core of the connection. There was a bit of romance for both FMC’s and I thought it was sweet and didn’t overwhelm the plot (because this felt like it should be more FANTASY than ROMANCE). The twists were enjoyable and it was an easy read to move through.

I look forward to reading another book from this author.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: mild
Romance: closed door
Violence: mild

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Ivelisse Housman
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: January 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Twin sisters, both on the run, but different as day and night. One, a professional rogue, searches for a fabled treasure; the other, a changeling, searches for the truth behind her origins, trying to find a place to fit in with the realm of fae who made her and the humans who shun her.

Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde… but as an autistic changeling trying to navigate her unpredictable magic, Seelie finds it more difficult to fit in with the humans around her. When Seelie and Isolde are caught up in a heist gone wrong and make some unexpected allies, they find themselves unraveling a larger 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?

I LIKED THIS!

I honestly had no idea what I would think of this one and I consider it a solid young adult read. It leans towards the younger-middle YA range (not bad, just an observance) and I adored the audio production.

The unique core of the plot with the changeling identity really sold me on picking it up. There’s some standard fantasy tropes woven throughout but the characters (especially the main) brought everything up a notch. I liked the world building and magic system with all of the fae elements too. A good ragtag bunch where you’re never quite sure who to trust will keep the pages moving.

Rather than romance, this book focuses on the strong bond of sisters. And with alllll of it’s ups and downs (which is flat out RELATABLE). I liked that they argued, I liked that they disagreed, it all made for a realistic relationship that I loved reading about. Character growth is ever present and I look forward to seeing more of that in the next book.

Overall audience notes: