These Deadly Prophecies

November 27, 2023
Chinese American teen Tabatha Zeng disappoints her parents—a lawyer and an engineer, respectively—by pursuing a career in prophecy. The sorcerer-in-training tries to compensate by apprenticing under Sorcerer Julian Solomon, the most notorious fortune teller on the East Coast, but her plan backfires after somebody dismembers him. Months prior, Julian predicted that he’d die at the hands of his “best beloved” and made Tabatha promise that upon his demise, she’d seek out his youngest son, “pretty, clean-cut white boy” Callum. Regrettably, Tabatha and Callum are the last two people to see Julian alive, resulting in them being implicated as the prime suspects in his murder. With the magic-hating head of the occult crimes unit, Det. Elena Chang, in pursuit, the duo—who don’t fully trust each other—join forces to clear their names. Tabatha narrates in reflection (“Toying with fate makes it hard to keep track of those hairline fractures between past, present, and future”), and her editorializations add wry humor and subtle foreshadowing throughout. The convenient conclusion is overshadowed by zippy pacing and witty banter, and moments of keen character insight lend heft to this lively and madcap mystery from Tang (Kingdom of Without). Ages 14–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

December 1, 2023
A sorcerer's teenage apprentice learns just how deadly the power of fortunetelling can be. Fortunetelling is a rare breed of sorcery, and Chinese American Tabatha Zeng has been learning it from the notorious prophet-sorcerer Julian Solomon, one of the best in the country. An integral part of her training is honing the ability to tell truths from lies. She never believed her mentor whenever he prophesied his own brutal murder--the timeline varied, but it was always going to be "at the hands of the person he loved most in all the world." But when she sees Julian's dismembered body with her own eyes, she keeps her promise to find his son Callum, who's also a fortuneteller, and stay by his side. The unlikely duo team up to investigate Julian's death, which leads them to wealthy and powerful members of the family, who may have their own motives for killing the Solomon patriarch. But Tabatha isn't sure if she can exclude Callum from her list of suspects, and the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to ascertain his innocence. Fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Inheritance Games (2020) will find Tang's latest to be an ideal read-alike with a fantastical twist. Although the story feels a bit unfinished, the clever voice and fast-paced storytelling will compel readers to finish this in one sitting and will leave them longing for more. An intriguing and magical mystery. (Fantasy mystery. 14-18)

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March 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up-Tang's fast-paced magical murder mystery is sure to delight fans of fantasy and mystery. Tabatha Zeng, a Chinese American teenager and an apprentice to an infamous sorcerer, has a problem. Her mentor, Julian Solomon, prophesies his death by the hands of his "most beloved." When Sorcerer Solomon is found dismembered and dead, Tabatha must find out who the murderer is to clear her name from a police investigation. She teams up with the youngest son of the sorcerer, Callum, to solve the murder and find unexpected romance. The investigation goes awry when Callum is accused of the murder and confesses, and Tabatha must use her wits to know who to trust. To complicate matters more, another murder victim is found dead, and Tabatha is given the family's magical legacy. Who can Tabatha trust when magic can disguise reality? Readers will be eager to find out in this page-turner. VERDICT Junior high and high school students alike will love the fantastical twists and turns. This novel will be a popular addition to YA collections.-Nancy Hawkins

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