This was a solid read! Great fantasy adventure. I enjoyed the developing relationships between all the characters, really great dialogue - mix of witty banter, heartfelt, and outbursts/ arguments. All felt authentic and purposeful. Seelie's character development took much longer than expected. The pace a little slower than I would have liked. At the 80% mark, I wanted things to wrap up already. Maybe too many scenes/tension building in just one book. But it was all really interesting! Don't read much changeling stories so pleasant experience. Raze felt like most developed character to me, enjoyed getting his back story. Wish there was more to Seelie but I guess it also made sense given she's a changeling. Badass how she saves the day! I wanted a bit more closure for the ending but perfect setup for sequel which I will definitely read!

I was initially excited to read a book with an autistic protagonist, and the exploration of autism through the changeling metaphor was done very well in the story. I really felt for Seelie, of her frustrations of her sister and the group not understanding her and the anger she felt over that. She was definitely the most enjoyable part of the book.

Unfortunately, the plot and pacing really drag the book down. I found myself skimming through paragraphs because it felt like it just dragged on and on. I didn't find the rest of the cast as interesting or compelling as Seelie; maybe her sister but not that much. The banter between Seelie and Raze was irritating and the constant arguing between everyone was exhausting. I also didn't care much for the worldbuilding, which was like much of what I've read in YA fantasy in the past.

Overall, this wasn't the read for me personally, but if someone was looking for great autistic representation, this would be the book for them.

This was a book I had earmarked for a long time by way of the beautiful cover I had seen floating around, and for my love of traditional fae elements. And I have to say, I was not disappoint! The first thing I was very excited and heart warmed to see was an autistic main character, especially one portrayed in an accurate light rather than an exploitative one who is allowed to be magical and strong. That counts for a lot in my books, and it was joined by a laundry list of well-done things that Ivelisse Housman wrote. The setting was expressive and worked as a perfect crucible for the main characters, who were entertaining the whole way through. Each of them served a function, so much so that things would eel incomplete if you removed one of them. I didn't feel as I was being dragged along through the story, and I was engaged enough to keep turning pages, especially since there was a dose of realism throughout the whole book that made me all the more grounded. The sisterly relationship was also well-written, and a good portion of the heart behind the book for me. I also adored Raze in all his banter-y glory. At times, things could tend towards tropes, but that's not a personal complaint for me, as I like the genre. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised at this book, and how much it captured me. I'll be eagerly awaiting the second in the duology!

Unseelie has become a new comfort read of mine, holy WOW. It really reminds me of the books I'd read when I was in middle school, full of heart, wonderful characters, and a very, very fun plotline to follow. This book was so amazing, from the engaging world, to the interesting characters, to OLANI MY LESBIAN HYPERFIXATION!!! Had to get that out, she's amazing.

I love Seelie so dearly, with every fiber of my heart. It's not often you get to see an autistic main character written to well that it feels like a mirror held up to yourself. And to have the surrounding characters treat her the way she deserved to be, but also hold her accountable for the things that hurt them. It's the found family trope tied in with the undying understanding that grabs my heart and never lets it go.

It's incredibly refreshing to see a book, especially a YA book, motivated by sisterhood and not romance. Again, it's something I don't get to see often, two sisters who love each other unconditionally and their FIGHTS were easy to understand, especially if you've had a sister of your own. I may be biased but being able to see such a strong, loving, and unbreakable bond between sisters is one of my favorite thing to read and Housman really knocked it out of the park with these two.

And on top of the lack of romance, I think it's obvious who might be having a little moment in the next book but I really appreciated that it was all buildup between Raze and Seelie. Not every moment to save him was motivated by a ten second romance, but by friendship and a desired to help this person and made it feel more genuine and not forced. It made it more believable in my eyes.

The pacing of the book was spot on. I've read a few books where the time spent traveling can feel pointless, or honestly even boring with the urge to move onto the next part of the story. This was character driven and development heavy. What could've gotten monotonous was filled with really solid character interaction.

I do wish that the characters other than Seelie would've gotten just a smidge more development. They weren't one note by any means but I wish to have gotten to know them just a bit more, maybe had a bit more depth. But it is hard to do that from first person.

All in all it was engaging, fun, and so interesting that I was able to read it rather quickly.

Iselia, aka Seelie, and her twin sister Isolde look identical but Seelie’s magic is more unpredictable. She has trouble just fitting in as she has a changeling attached to her and her sister is pure human. Both the girls get caught in a heist gone wrong that changes the course of their life. They make new friends along the way and discover new things about themselves they never imagined.

This book was enjoyable, but some parts did fall flat for me. The pacing was random and weird in some parts. But again that’s typical in YA fantasy. There is representation with an autistic character and I liked that aspect. There is a lot of emotions and character development that I also really liked reading.

All in all, thank you the publishers for an early copy and I hope to see more characters with disabilities in the future.

Iselia - Seelie by choice - and her twin sister, Isolde (Sol) are living on their own, getting by as best they can, after fleeing their home and their parents. They live in a post-apocalyptic world of some type, as there are unexplained ruins everywhere, often next to or under the town, fairies are common, and magic of many types is well-known, although fairy magic is avoided whenever possible; as is common with fairies, their assistance comes at a price, and often a price that is not what the bargainer intended. Seelie's magic is unpredictable, and she can't always control it - so rather than risk it getting out of hand, she uses it as little as possible, bottling it up inside her. But there comes a time when that doesn't work any more, and so the quest begins.

This novel had a perspective on changelings - alternates left in place of fairy-kidnapped children - that I don't think I've ever seen, and I quite enjoyed it. Seelie and her sister Sol are identical twins, but opposites in personality. They support and complement each other, although they have different goals - something that becomes apparent as their quest continues. I can only hope that the author intends to write a sequel.

The author provides an informative and thought-provoking introduction to Unseelie where she discusses what it’s like to be a changeling. Ivelisse Housman, you see, is autistic. She presents an interesting case for the changelings - those unusual beings well-known in folklore as fairy children who have replaced human children - having been children with autism.

In Unseelie, Housman has created a character who is different. Whose differences are acknowledged by her family, if not fully acceoted, and who is loved unconditionally. Iselia or Seelie as she is called throughout the book, doubts herself and feels responsible for bad things that happened to her family. In Housman’s hands, though, Seelie becomes powerful as she accepts who she is and what she can do.

The story follows many of the familiar themes in folklore - there’s a quest, a treasure, and a band of misfits who battle powerful forces. There is also a storng theme of family and friendship which provides the backbone upon which the story is built. And this is a cracking good story - imaginative, clever, and full of vivid description.

This is a beautiful and powerful story that will surely appeal to fans of fantasy and folklore.

I really enjoyed Unseelie. YA fantasy will always be my first love, but as the years roll on, I find that fewer and fewer make an impact. This is my favorite I've read in 2022.

Focusing mostly on the bonds of sisterhood through the eyes of our main character, Seelie, Housman creates a story that is well plotted and has fully-fleshed characters, but where this book shines most is in its building of atmosphere. It's an entertaining, didn't-want-to-put-it-down kind of read that is equally satisfying for those with deeper knowledge on fae/fairy tales as those without. I especially loved the way changeling lore was integrated here, and Housman's depiction of Seelie's neurodivergence. HIghly recommend.

I really enjoyed Unseelie. I love how Seelie was portrayed and how she grew over the course of the book. Isolde was a great character as well and I loved the world building that unfolded as their journey went along. I would definitely recommend this book.

Unfortunately I did not finish this title and gave up at 47% of the way into the book.

Personally I found the pacing too slow for my taste. We were still setting up their quest, exploring the basics of new friendships and bonds, the MC was just learning to harness her magic and get lessons etc. halfway into the book.

I'd recommend this book for people who like slow paced, journey following, fantasy books with plenty of dialogue and comradery. I have a feeling we were going to get an enemies to lovers situation, but I can't be sure!

So incredibly disappointed.

I was PUMPED to read about an autistic changeling but I found this book to be slow and boring with flat characters and little plot development. I'm not going to speak to the representation itself since I'm not autistic so I can't tell you whether or not it's a "good" portrayal. All I can say is that I expected that to be a bigger part of the book and it ended up being mainly a story about a girl who is scared to use her powers (which are confusing "powers" to begin with).

I found it hard to follow with some characters coming out of left field and I spent most of my time just waiting for it to be over. Definitely not for me.

This book drops you right into the action, which is a little confusing at first, but things clear up as you go. I liked Seelie right from the start, she isn't your typical fantasy hero in that she doesn't want to go on adventures or have magic, but she was a very appealing character just the same. I wanted to strangle Raze shortly after we met him, especially when he and Olani were forcing Seelie and Isolde to help them. That was infuriating, but that's probably the point. Either way it was very well done.

Some of the traveling felt a little drawn out, but it never felt slow, and even though there wasn't a lot of action there was still a lot going on. Everything felt really crammed in at the end, and the ending itself was very abrupt, but I am psyched about the set up for a sequel.

The world building was so cool and the characters were engaging. Can't wait for more!

Do you ever just... read a book and know immediately that you want to be friends with the author? I loved this book, its point of view, and its sense of humor.

Seelie is a changeling, and after a few unexpected developments, she finds herself on a quest for treasure with her twin sister and a couple of unlikely allies. And while I love a good questing storyline, what really brought this story to life was experiencing it through the filter of Seelie's perspective. Though the name for the diagnosis doesn't exist in her world, Seelie (like the author) has autism. We see this manifest in the way Seelie experiences the world around her, grappling with her emotions, impulses, and the stigma of being a changeling and not fully belonging to the fae or mortal realm. Her humor and sarcasm was an absolute delight to read. The things she notices and remarks on, like a sticky table or a clammy hand, or wanting to crawl out of her own skin and run away from it, paint such a clear picture of the way she receives sensory input. I think I laughed out loud when she described a kiss as "damp."

Though it's clear Seelie experiences things differently than those around her, which sometimes causes her stress or angst, her unique strengths also shine in this story. Seelie has deep affection for her family and friends, and that motivates her to work toward accepting and mastering the powerful magic she's been repressing her whole life. In this journey toward self-acceptance, Seelie learns she is capable of battling against forces of evil and discovering hidden truths about the realms. And through this, Seelie begins to see herself as more of a hero and less of a sidekick. She also begins to enjoy that about herself, and I love that for her. I can't wait to see how Seelie grows and matures as the story continues to unfold, and I'm excited to read more from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the DRC of this super enjoyable story!

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC of this book for my honest opinion

I loved seeing a MC that is autistic, I have read a lot of books like year with anxiety and other health issues, but this was my first autistic read. I loved everything about this book from the characters to the plot, from the interactions throughout the book to the attention to details that the authors use.

I enjoyed getting to know Seelie throughout the book and being able to see the world through her eyes and to be able to connect with that character due to the writing style of Housman. We get to travel with Seelie & her sister throughout the book where they get some unexpected guests that travel with them on an adventure of their lives.

To be able to see the growth of characters in a book is very important to me just like the plot. In this book you will be disappointed not only do you get a plot, but you really get to see the characters' growth throughout the book. I think my favorite part is where Seelie starts to accept her magic and comes to terms that it is not a bad thing but something she has to learn how to control. I really enjoyed that the author uses baking as Seelie’s way to relax, I know for me it is cooking or cleaning.

I thought the relationship between the two sisters was the best and I can understand Isolde wanting something else, but then again, I can understand Seelie feeling like she is losing her sister somehow. I think it was relatable to see how the sisters fought about this too really brings them to life and is easy to connect with. All the characters really in this book were relatable and easy to connect with.

Raze and Olani are the best of friends and I love their banter. However, I really love Raze banter with everyone in the book and how he tries to make everyone feel better with his bantering and trying to make everyone feel better.

The plot with the attention to details really helped to bring this book to life for me. I loved when they travel to the fairy world and all the amazing things that the characters get to do with their magic. This author knows how to grab you with her words and keep you wanting more and more. This is a great, fast-paced and easy to read book. If you love adventure, drama, fantasy, and a cute male who knows how to banter you should read this book

I want to thank Netgalley/Inkyard press and Ivelisse Housman for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'm absolutely in the minority here but Unseelie was just okay for me. I thought it had a strong start but overall was a bit too long. I found the pacing to be slow even with all the action happening and I found myself wanting to see more of The Destiny than the actual characters. Honestly it mostly felt like set up for a second book instead of a story in and of itself. World building is great but I needed more plot and a faster pacing.

Unseelie is a YA fantasy book about two sisters finding their way through the book. The main character, Seelie, is autistic and has special "powers" that she is trying to hide from everyone. I did not engage well with this book. I did finish it, however; it was not one of my favorites or one I would read again.

Thank you to Ivelisse Houseman NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for an Electronic Advanced Readers Copy of this novel.

Inselia "Seelie" is an autistic changeling who tries to hide her abilities from everyone, including herself. When an incident stemming from her inability to control her magic causes her to flee her family, her twin human sister Insolde come along. Forced to work with people who were also trying to burgle a home during a celebration night to help uncover a treasure, Seelie is forced to confront her powers and figure out what she is capable of.

Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman, is a well written tale about a fantasy world where Fairies and magic are real. It's not really my usual genre, but I enjoyed it. Please note that this is most likely part of a series.

Honestly just super unimpressed by this book.

Seelie’s only competencies are selfishness and lack of ability to defeat herself. As for Isolde, Olani, and Raze they just felt like limp noodles.

The whole quest was more or less bumbling along. Why didn’t anyone question what the compass was for? Or where it led really? And Leira’s ultimate goals as a villain were never really explained either. And Gossamer, like what did he do.

The only thing I really liked about this book was the goblin cat.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

I enjoyed this unique YA Fantasy about Seelie, a Changling, and her sister Isolde's adventures on the search for treasures with two unexpected, and unwanted, partners Raze and Olani. The four end up being chased through fairy realms barely coming out of each one of them and so many secrets are revealed after each realm.

I liked getting to know each of the characters and the connections they make along their journey but this book also felt like a setup to the next book. The pacing was a bit slow up until the ending and then it was over. I will read book two because I think there's lots that will happen but as a first book it was not the pacing I was hoping for.

Taking off my librarian hat to respond personally as an autistic person.

It was great to read a book with an autistic lead that uses the historical folklore reckoning with autism as framing mechanism. Seelie's magical meltdowns felt all too familiar, as did the process of learning how to manage them, with magic as a capable stand-in for overpowering emotions. Her adherence to a specifically learned ruleset and resistance to change also felt very familiar.

This book could work as a stand-alone; by the end Seelie has grown enough that the reader could imagine her being capable to handle the challenges presented in the final chapter. That said, it's left pretty open ended, like the publisher is fishing for a sequel, but only if this sells well enough. I would have preferred a more definite conclusion.

Opinions are my own and do not represent the institution I work for.