Gr 9 Up--When Ava was eight years old, a vampire murdered her mother, leaving Ava and her brother Parker orphaned. Nine years later, Parker has found a permanent home, and Ava sets out on a mission to avenge her mother's death by hunting the vampires that killed her. When she stumbles into a group of magicians in need of another troupe member for an upcoming competition, it seems like the perfect opportunity to achieve her goals. In this genre-defying mash-up world of vampires and stage magic, Ava's own desire to find a family and her deep-rooted hatred of vampires make it difficult for her to know which of her instincts to trust. To make matters worse, she finds herself caught between smoldering Roman and dynamic Xander, both of whom are captivating and likely hiding something. Built on an intriguing premise that combines a contemporary setting with magical and fantastical elements, a slow set-up and methodical worldbuilding pays off for patient readers when the immersive magic tricks and action scenes get started. VERDICT A recklessly brave main character and witty, well-defined secondary characters keep a complex plot afloat.--Allie Stevens

A girl is determined to join a troupe of vampire-hunting magicians and avenge her mother's death. Ava Perry, 18, and Parker, her younger brother, have been in the foster system since their magician parents were killed. Their dad died so long ago that Ava barely remembers him. Ava never shared with Parker that a vampire was responsible for their mother's death a decade earlier or that she has been training for years to kill one herself. Her mom always said magic wasn't actually real, but when Ava learns this was a lie to protect her, she wants to know everything. A troupe of magicians reveal that they use their magic to hunt vampires, and they invite Ava to join them. However, to become immortal like them, she has to prove herself in a competition against other apprentices. As the competition gets underway, she realizes there is something more sinister at play, and the truths she held fast to may not be so true after all. This lush, stand-alone paranormal fantasy blends several beloved tropes into a fresh, enchanting tale. There's a delicious love triangle, gory blood magic, fierce rivalries, and found family. It's a bit slow to start as the worldbuilding is unveiled, but then the action accelerates and the romance heats up. The twisty reveals will keep readers captivated. Main characters are White; there is some racial diversity and a queer couple in Ava's troupe. Sure to dazzle those in the mood for something sensuous and sinister. (Paranormal. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Eighteen-year-old, white-cued Ava Perry and her younger brother Parker, California natives, are living in yet another foster home in this ethereal re-imagining of the vampire mythos. In the 10 years since their mother's murder, Ava has strived to protect Parker by keeping the details behind their magician mother's death a secret, namely that she was killed by a vampire and that Ava's been training as a vampire hunter ever since. When she discovers a group of magicians performing magic similar to her mother's--and learns that they are also hunting vampires--she decides to join their troupe. But to prove herself worthy of their resources, she must compete against other potential apprentices in a deadly tournament that puts her and Parker's lives at risk. In this beguiling examination of good, evil, and myriad in-between tones, Fuston (Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things) challenges a vengeful teenager's preconceived notions in uncomfortable ways and centers the importance of family--both chosen and otherwise--via a highly introspective narrative and well-developed queer and racially inclusive cast. Ages 14--up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary. (Nov.)