**3.5 Stars**

Overall this was an interesting story with hints of what could be some super cool world building I would love to learn more about. The pacing was a little off, with the first 2 thirds being very slow with not much happening and more internalizing and angst and then the last third was so action jammed it was hard to keep track with how much was going on and bounced around. Also, the ending was a giant cliff hanger, so be aware you are going to want more asap. I definitely plan to pick up the next book so I can get all (hopefully) of my questions answered and see what happens next.

Side note here, the author posted online that Seelie the main character is autistic which I did not know/realize until I saw her post. As a character she is standoffish and has a hard time connecting to others and is a little bit ostracized, which I took to be from her being a changeling Fey that didn't fit in and was just a little bit different from everyone else. I guess those differences could be from autism or her changeling-ness... It made it a little confusing adding that factor in but maybe it works well that way?

I really enjoyed this YA fantasy from author Ivelisse Housman.

Loved the autism rep! Having a main character being sensitive, having sensory issues, and experiencing meltdowns while going on a fantastical adventure was a joy.

Seelie and her sister have a realistic and loving relationship, and their bond really carries the story. The magic system and mysteries behind changelings and the great war could have been fleshed out a bit more, but I still really enjoyed this story and am excited for the sequel.

Growing up, I was always obsessed with stories of fairies—and thus the changeling myth, where human children are replaced with fairy ones. I had never come across the version of this myth that entails non-autistic children being swapped for autistic ones. It is a very interesting angle, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the representation it provided in Unseelie.

This is certainly a character-driven novel. There’s Seelie, who resists using her magic; her impulsive “twin” sister Isolde; Olani, a skilled fighter and healer; and Rave, a shapeshifter and the love interest. They’re a lovable ragtag group, but I struggled with their mission. They unite to retrieve an object of magical value, though I was never really sure how the object factored into the magic system.

Seelie was the star of the show. Her struggles to into society as a changeling paired very well with her difficulty connecting with and understanding her peers, even as they grow closer and closer. I also loved her relationship with her sister Isolde; the two fight and bicker, but they unconditionally support one another.

In the last leg of the novel, however, the pacing felt off. Subplots and important new details are introduced, but the lateness makes it feel rushed. Although Unseelie is the start of a duology, I still wish it had resolved more of its plot to make room for the next installation.

Unseelie is one of those books that should have been a top read of the year. It had all the things I would have loved in a book—relatable characters, dragons and shapeshifters, and a fascinating magic system. It had an intriguing take on fae and changelings and autism; all the perfect ingredients of a great story. And in many ways, it was a lovable story. I’m glad it was my first read of 2023.

But I struggled with the voice and the writing so much that I found it difficult to get into. The characters acted like young adults, but the writing itself needed to be stronger to draw me in. Ivelisse Housman relies heavily on telling the reader what the main character is thinking and feeling so much so that at times it feels as though she doesn’t trust the reader to understand anything. The dialogue was choppy and every character talked the same. The writing just didn’t flow in a way that was enjoyable for me to read.

In addition, I spent much of the book bored because it was action after action after action without much time to breathe, and it felt too repetitive, especially in the middle. I was left wanting more from the plot and from the characters and their interactions. I found myself skimming certain parts because I didn’t want to read another scene where they were running or fighting.

That said, there was a lot to like. The relationships within the narrative were well-written and intriguing. It had an absolutely brilliant enemies-to-lovers arc that made my heart happy. Raze and Seelie were on opposite sides, forced to work together for what they wanted. They needed each other and they hated that. And Seelie and Isolde had a really great sister relationship too—and it felt very realistic, with the back and forth between them and a lot of the tension in their relationship.

The book admittedly got infinitely better when Gossamer was on the page? I love a good villain with a complicated… relationship? to the main character. And he promises to be a really good villain in the sequel.

Overall, I am interested in the sequel (especially after that ending) (and okay let’s be real I’m reading for more Gossamer; he’s a very compelling antagonist). I do recommend this book—but I also think it’s one of those books with writing that isn’t going to be loved by every reader.

"Unseelie" swept me away into the world of magic and fae. I loved the sisterly bond and quest that Isolde and Iselia go on. The action and adventure started right from the beginning! Both characters were portrayed as strong characters but also shown as needing to lean on each other at times. They both had me rooting for them throughout the whole story! Thank you to Inkyard Press and NerGalley for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I enjoyed this debut. I had a really interesting premise regarding changlings as a metaphor and I'd definitely like to continue reading this series. I also found the writing was easy to digest and the world building wasn't overly complicated.

One thing I wasn't crazy about was the coincidences. A lot of the story relied upon being in the right place at the right time with the right people and it was a little too "everything falls into place" for my taste. There wasn't enough struggle.

Overall, I'd read the next book in this series and more from this author but this wasn't the most memorable debut I've read about Fae.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Unseelie

Author: Ivelisse Housman

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4.5/5

Diversity: Autistic Coded MC with speech impediment and is a twin

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, high fantasy, fae, autistic characters, twin characters, speech impediment characters

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

Genre: YA Fantasy

Age Relevance: 12+ (violence, death, child killing, gore, romance, cursing, abelsim)

Explanation of Above: There is some knife violence, some physical violence, and death and child killings are mentioned. Abelism is mentioned vaguely in a few places of the text. There is some slight blood gore. There is some slight romance but nothing more than light kisses. There is very slight cursing, I believe only a handful of instances in the book.

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 432

Synopsis: 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?

Review: I thought this book was pretty well done. The book involves fae and a lot of fun high fantasy elements, but with amazing magic that is very well developed and described. I liked the world building as well and I thought the character development was great. The book had great commentary on abelism with autistic people, especially in how a lot of people imply they would want a dead child with autism than one with. There are some passages about loving children as they come despite what they bring with them or what occurs to them, which I think is something a lot of would-be parents and even current parents need to think upon. The book is also very “chosen one”-like and would be perfect for those seeking that trope, especially ones that ring true to early 00s chosen one stories.

The only issues I had with the book is that in the beginning it had a very Book 2 type of feel to it and it was a little difficult to get into.

Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend.

What a way to start my reading year! Newly released, Unseelie offered so much more than I ever expected. Not only is this book a breath of fresh air by digging into the characters' big emotions, but it also gives a voice to many whose struggles to communicate go unheard. I absolutely loved that this author shared a part of herself in this book to help herself and others like her to be seen, especially because it's in such a strong role. Autistic kids aren't well represented in literature, much less fantasy, and even less in strong leading roles. Ivylisse Housman has woven a beautiful story of family, adventure, and identity that showcases the strengths and weaknesses of the main character, Seelie, in a way that helps readers identify with both.

When "twin" sisters Isolde and Seelie are forced to flee their home after an incident that reveals a dangerous part of Seelie's nature - the magic of a changeling. On their quest to find money to build a new home for their family and restore their parents' memories, the sisters encounter many unexpected obstacles.

Breaking into the Wildline manor to steal a magical item isn't only the sisters' goal, however. They meet Raze and Olani, who have also snuck into the estate and are now competing for the item.....or perhaps, they could work together?

Given no choice, the four are thrown into a dangerous journey of magic, secrets, and discovery as they search for the Wildline Legacy. But what is it they're searching for, and where do they look? As they follow the path to discover an unknown treasure, Isolde, Seelie, Olani and Raze discover secrets not only about their companions but about themselves. Friendships will be forged, but will they outlast the secrets and tentative trust between them?

Skills and loyalty are tested in dire situations as they travel to and from faerie realms, accidentally and on purpose. Powers are stretched to their limit, and their tenuous new friendships are questioned at every turn. What will happen when they reach the treasure? Will they go their separate ways and return to their lives? Is that what any of them want?

Join the newly formed quartet of adventurers as they discover the treasure they seek, and what it will mean for their futures in Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman.

"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?"

You had me at Unseelie, but the story is a terrific read on top of all the magical faerie goodies. Relatable characters, real world problems in a fantasy setting, and a unique faerie puzzle to solve in time to save a loved one. Looking forward to the sequel!

I was fully immersed in the world of Unseelie from page one. Seelie and her twin Isolde have been on the run for years, after an accident with Seelie's changeling powers. Seelie is part fae, though she tries really hard to push her gift down. She's also autistic, dealing with things in different ways than many others. Their end goal is to secure (steal) enough money so that they can return to their parents and start a new life together somewhere safe. However, this is greatly complicated when they manage to steal a magical artifact and become hunted by one of the most powerful women in the land. Along the way they join forces with Raze and Olani, who have their own reasons for wanting to find the treasure that this artifact leads to. Can they work together and survive this journey?
This is the kind of fantasy novel that I really enjoy. The world pulls you in. It's full of perils, but also beauty. Seelie was easy to connect to as a protagonist, and I really enjoyed seeing her relationship with her sister and the newly forming friendship/romance with Raze. The magic in this novel is also intriguing. Great worldbuilding and great characters. I truly can't wait to see where this story goes next.

Loved this! To see an autistic hero in a young adult fantasy was so refreshing. The plot was exciting and interesting. Kept me guessing until the end.

I wanted to enjoy this book but I had issues, Changelings are autistic children ? The characters themselves I found not well constructed and quite shallow,I appreciate the much needed neuro diverse rep, but overall for me it just wasn’t enjoyable and a lot of the leads choices just seemed to be too convenient to the plot. The romance I liked and had potential, but even this seemed to be running hot and cold. Not for me sadly and I really wanted it to be too.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
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Seelie is a young woman with autism who finds it difficult to fit in with the people that she finds herself surrounded by, and it doesn't help that she is a changeling as well; people are not accepting of changelings, nor those who choose to love her. Thankfully Seelie has a twin of sorts, Isolde, who loves and accepts her for who she is. In order to survive the twins take to stealing, but when they get involved in what they believe will be a simple heist they find themselves with much bigger problems, and a couple of unwanted allies. Traveling between the faerie and human realms, Seelie must show incredible strength, both magically and internally, if she has any hope of escaping and surviving. 

In general I enjoyed the novel. I liked the strength that is possessed by many of the characters, the magical elements that are woven throughout the narrative, as well as many of the instances of duality in Unseelie. Seelie is an intriguing character; she has a determination rooted in love, making her a very sympathetic character. I also appreciated the fact that this protagonist has a few obstacles to overcome, obstacles that most don’t face, and she does so with strength and grace. Through the words and descriptions used a magical land which I enjoyed exploring with Seelie and Isolde was created. There were some times that things seemed to drag a little and I found myself losing interest however.

If I knew this was a series I would not have requested this. I won't be continuing it, I was pretty bored and didn't realize this was about faeries which I don't care for. Not a bad book but not for me!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

4.5/5 ⭐️

Before I start my review I want to acknowledge that while Inkyardpress and other imprints under Harlequin are not apart of the Harpercollins Union every other imprint is and it’s important to hold your reviews!

I’m having a hard time articulating how important this book is to me. So I’ll start with what the book is about.

Unseelie is about and autistic changeling named Seelie. When her and her sister, Isolde, are caught up in a heist gone wrong, they end up traveling with two unexpected Allie’s to unravel a larger mystery than they expected.

Ivelisse Housman takes such classic tropes, heists, Fae realms, adventure stories, and turns them on their head to create something new and exciting. And it’s new and exciting because the main character Seelie, is autistic. She is so unapologetically autistic. It’s woven into everything she does, every scene, every sentence, every way she interacts with the characters. It never needs to be unnecessarily pointed weirdly by other couples like neurotypical do when they write autistic characters. And it’s done in a way only and Ownvoices author can achieve it.

The magical world is incredibly well done as well. I really enjoyed the way our world and the Fae realms were portrayed, especially the Fae realms I am begging for book two to have more Fae realms content I am so curious. I also really like how Housman sprinkled in talks of ableism and eugenics in a way that was age-appropriate and easy to understand. While I guessed certain aspects of the story I was also so drawn in, I had such a hard time putting this book down.

And this slowburn is a sloooowburn and I’m simply obsessed. The dynamics all the characters had were so interesting and fleshed out. Also side couple sapphic relationship? 👀

I also want to take a moment to talk about the writing which was done so well. I really, really like that the story was in first person as it helped delve into Seelie’s character and see how she viewed the world. Not the other characters views, hers. This could get a little repetitive bjt after seeing a story Housman mad on instagram I fully understood why it was written this way. A lot of times autistic people can have a harder time wrapping our heads around things. We also like patterns and things to be almost exactly the same, and that sometimes includes our thoughts. So yes Seelie was very repetitive it was also very accurate to many autistic people. The story was a little rushed at the end and it could get a little too repetitive at times.

The last thing I want to delve into (very sorry for the long review,) is how important this book is to me. Time and time again autistic are told we “don’t belong,” because we “wouldn’t make sense.” Well this book is a big fuck you to them. Because we do belong. We belong in your stories, we belong to be the center of your stories. Very few characters feel like I can truly relate too. Sure I relate to some aspects of character but Seelie? I fully and wholy understood. This book felt like they had plucked things from my mind and placed them in a story of magic that I never thought I would find myself in.

So, yeah that’s my review. It’s long but it’s from my heart, and I teared up writing it. If you can’t tell GO READ IT!!

Very appreciative for the opportunity to read and review Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman. I've been looking for more fae and magic-based books and had high hopes for this title.

Ivelisse's world-building was strong and believable. The folklore, character backstories, and settings held strong throughout and gave lots of great visual elements and moments of immersion in this world.

However, there was something about Seelie I just couldn't warm to. Maybe I'm the wrong age to read this kind of story, or since this is not my genre of choice, I'm missing some known information on tropes. However, Seelie's relationship with Isolde and Raze in particular felt difficult and overly brash. The dialogue wasn't strong enough for me to understand some deeper parts of the relationships or each character's motivations beyond sharing the bounty of the promised treasure, and I'm a little confused about what the whole compass even meant. These things didn't have to be known to Seelie, but a little clarity for the reader would have made the story more satisfying to me. Without this knowledge, the plot felt slow for what was covered, and the ending was pretty abrupt.

I have a feeling I'm going to be looking to pick up a lot more fae books in the future, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. First and foremost I felt that the worldbuilding especially was done really well. I felt fully immersed in the world as well as the characters' stories. The characters themselves were well written and full of dimension, their struggles and relationships in a lot of ways were relatable and understandable.

The sisters, as well as their supporting characters were really compelling. I really liked not only the fantasy of the story, but also the ideas regarding real world issues (autism) and what they might have meant in the past. I would love to explore this story and world more to see what more is to come!

This was my most anticipated read for 2023, so I was THRILLED when I had the chance to read an ARC from Netgalley. From the first pages, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. It's one of the best feelings when a book you're excited for follows through—and not only does it follow through, but it immediately soars to a new all-time favorite.

Unseelie has all the trappings of a classic, fun YA fantasy adventure, but with an autistic protagonist. And when I say that makes me ridiculously happy—

While the book was full of adventure, fun, and magic, it also brought out deeper emotions, too. I'm not one to cry or tear up in books all that often, but this one certainly hit me in the feels.

If you're looking for a fun, fae-filled romp through a fantasy world that's full of so much heart, I HIGHLY recommend picking up Unseelie.

*I received an e-ARC from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Honestly, it took me some time to get invested in the characters, and I didn't find myself particularly compelled to keep reading it like those novels that really hook you from line two. However, I didn't look at this book as a chore to read either. It was really a chill read despite the many life-threatening situations! Housman very obviously did their research on fairy lore and the many folk creatures that fall under their umbrella. I loved that the story wasn't overly antagonistic. I thought Seelie was pretty relatable, but I felt the rest of the characters could have done with a little more fleshing out. Overall, I thought this was a cozy, comfortable read, and I would definitely feel comfortable recommending it to teens and advanced readers in middle school.

This book follows Seelie who is a changeling as she goes on an adventure to the faerie world. I really enjoyed seeing the autistic representation in this book. The authors note had me crying before even starting the book. I enjoyed the adventure and the quest. I wish there was more that had been resolved but I didn’t realize this was a duology. I’m interested to see where this story goes in book 2.