Stranger Skies - (The Drowned Gods Trilogy) by Pascale Lacelle

Book Synopsis

Ninth House meets The Hazel Wood in this "richly written" (Booklist, starred review) sequel to the New York Times bestselling dark academia fantasy Curious Tides, following Emory, Baz, Romie, and Kai on their desperate quests through worlds and time!

Opening locked doors has a price--even for those who hold a key.

After going through the door that called to them both in dreams, Emory and Romie find themselves in the Wychwood: the same verdant world written of in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit a twisted, rotting version of it. A sinister force has awoken with their arrival, intent on destruction as it spills across realms, and now Emory and Romie must stop it before it reaches their own shores.

Meanwhile, Baz and Kai are desperate to follow their friends through the door to other worlds, but a mishap pulls them back in time instead--where they come face to face with Cornus Clover himself, famed author of Song of the Drowned Gods. Stuck together in the past, they must navigate a very different Aldryn as they unravel the school's darkest secrets.

Across time and worlds, Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai find their fates eerily interwoven with the heroes from Clover's book. But when stories can't be trusted, friendships are put to the test, and deadly enemies are not always as they seem, they must decide who gets to be a hero--and who is desperate enough to see themselves become a villain.

Review Quotes

* "This sequel is as richly written as the first and maintains momentum with unexpected twists. The narrative is extremely complex, yet all the varied pieces fit together perfectly...All of the characters are painstakingly drawn and well-rounded. The cliff-hanger ending is a promise for this fantastical trilogy's conclusion." --Booklist, starred review "11/1/24"

"An expansive and engaging sequel that builds on the fresh worldbuilding of the original."--Kirkus Reviews "10/15/24"

About the Author

Pascale Lacelle is a French Canadian author from Ottawa, Ontario. A longtime devourer of books, she started writing her own at age thirteen and quickly became enthralled by the magic of words. After earning her bachelor's degree in French literature, she realized the English language is where her literary heart lies (but don't tell any of her French professors that). When not lost in stories, she's most likely daydreaming about food and travel, playing with her dog Roscoe, or trying to curate the perfect playlist for every mood. You can find her on Instagram and X @PascaleLacelle.