The island of Charmant is a dazzling place where liquor flows freely despite its prohibition on the mainland and a single jewel can bring one's wildest fantasies to life.Beneath the glamour, all is not as it seems, and none knows that better than Luxe Revelle, whose family teeters on the brink of starvation while others exploit their own magic to prosper. When Dewey Chronos, the passed-over scion of Charmant's mayor, offers not only everything the Revelles need to keep their business alive, but a chance to put all of the island's magical families on equal footing in exchange for Luxe's help in securing his victory in the upcoming election, she can't refuse. Meanwhile, orphan Jamison Port finds himself in over his head (and heels) when pursuing a strange sense of déjà vu catapults him into a world of intrigues as multifaceted as the jewels the island runs on. On the surface, this fantastical romance ticks all the standard boxes. However, the carefully orchestrated plot unfolds, revealing new layers, twists, and revelations at every turn and building to a crescendo. A great deal of thought has been put into the worldbuilding, and the characters are richly and sensitively drawn. This attention to small details makes it easy to lose oneself in the story, and if the ending feels a bit rushed, the story's strengths more than make up for it. Lead characters are White.An enchanting debut. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Gr 9 Up— Magical families live on an island off the coast of Manhattan in Prohibition-era New York. The biggest tourist draw is the Big Tent, a raucous circus spectacle, and the Fun House, a darker form of entertainment. Both are owned by the Revelle family, who cling to their struggling businesses by their very toes. Luxe Revelle is the trapezist star who uses her family's magic but also has a secret one. The Revelles rely on an alcohol-fueled audience to toss gems on stage, gems they use to channel their magic. Prohibition threatens their business. Their only hope is to forge an alliance with Dewey, the youngest son of their arch nemesis, the time-traveling Chronos family. Dewey agrees, with the caveat that Luxe act as his sweetheart during his mayoral campaign. A case of mistaken identity finds Luxe charming Jamison, an orphan with few clues to his past, instead, to magnificent effect. Secrets revealed bring a spectacular showdown of magic, death, and change. Smith has created compelling characters, enchanting family histories, and some very complicated magical abilities that propel the action. Dazzling descriptions of the Big Tent allow readers to truly picture the tawdry glamor of the circus. Each character has unique vulnerabilities while a theme of loyalty to friends and family runs strongly throughout. Less compelling is the Fun House, which comes across as a brothel where the girls make anyone's fantasies feel true, no matter how disturbing. The various forms of magic and the complicated rules of time travel can be confusing yet at the same time, are overly explained. Still, there is a whole new world, not just an island, to be discovered. VERDICT Recommended for fans of Laini Taylor and Stephanie Garber.— Lee De Groft