My Thoughts:
From the Pride Month TBR list, this novel combines LGBTQIA characters with fantasy (fae and wtiches) as well as social justice issues.
I have noticed that BIPOC and AAPI YA novels have started to shift in content and context. For example, instead of being about culture and the challenges of culture or the stereotypes based on culture (urban black youth in the inner city battling gangs, drugs, cops, for example), the new BIPOC and AAPI books either play with other types of genre or context, or the content is not centered on culture. For example, being Asian and dating a non-Asian is not the center of the novel's conflict.
The Witch King, by switching to fantasy and fae culture is also able to acknowledge the trauma of queer youth when they are not accepted by their own parents and community, but the author actually focuses on Wyatt being a witch in a family of fae as the major issue rather than being trans. In fact, once Wyatt returns to Asalin, he sees that not only is the prince, his fiancee not fazed by his identity but that the issue has nothing to do with Wyatt being trans at all (again, it is the witch thing).
Finally, since I do not want to give too much away, like all good YA fantasy novels, it ends before you are ready.
This is a YA, maybe 9th grade, based on the book I just reviewed on Growing Up Trans, trans youth identify earlier than 9th grade, so some issues to acknowledge if book talking this to younger middles: some violence, abuse, and assault, murder by magic and fire, heavy making out, but no explicit sex. I think when teachers read the books themselves, then they can make the decision on who to book talk this book to. It really is not about the presence or absence of any of these things, but really about whether the abuse is gratuitous or not. In this case, it is not. For example, when Wyatt's sister Tessa is able to acknowledge the abuse of his parents toward him as a witch born of fae parents, and how she was complacent in not standing up for him, the abuse is used as a way to heal for both of them. If people do not read something because it has sexual assault and physical abuse, then they miss the opportunity to see the characters grow.
From the Publisher:
To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.
Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.
In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.
Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.
Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.
In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.
Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.
