Lava Red Feather Blue
Awakening the handsome prince is supposed to end the fairy tale, not begin it. But the Highvalley witches have rarely done things the way they're supposed to. On the north Pacific island of Eidolonia, hidden from the world by enchantments, Prince Larkin has lain in a magical sleep since 1799 as one side of a truce between humans and fae. That is, until Merrick Highvalley, a modern-day witch, discovers an old box of magic charms and cryptic notes hidden inside a garden statue.
Experimenting with the charms, Merrick finds himself inside the bower where Larkin lies, and accidentally awakens him. Worse still, releasing Larkin from the spell also releases Ula Kana, a faery bent on eradicating humans from the island. With the truce collapsing and hostilities escalating throughout the country, Merrick and Larkin form an unlikely alliance and become even unlikelier heroes as they flee into the perilous fae realm on a quest to stop Ula Kana and restore harmony to their island.
Content warnings: Magic used nonconsensually to compel others; violent attacks, including some blood and fire; death and grief; imprisonment; untrustworthy governments.
Abundant queerness is the norm on Eidolonia, there is no homophobia/transphobia, and identity labels aren't used in-universe.
Read the first five chapters at the bottom of the page.
OTHER EIDOLONIA BOOKS (all can be read as stand-alones): Ballad for Jasmine Town
Lava Red Feather Blue and related queer fantasy titles: Molly’s recs
REVIEWS:
“…delightful…passionate…Ringle’s clever worldbuilding, well-rounded characters, and tight action sequences are sure to impress. With this engrossing urban fantasy, Ringle delivers a queer fairy tale as electrifying as it is tender.” - Publishers Weekly
“Absolutely enchanting! Ringle’s writing is as dreamy and lush as her vividly imagined island of Eidolonia, making this a perfect escape. Lava Red Feather Blue is sure to delight lovers of fae, fairytales, and fantasy.” - Allie Therin, author of the Magic in Manhattan series
“Lush and imaginative—an epic fantasy for a new generation, full of love, vengeance, redemption, and forgiveness.” - Pam Stucky, author of The Universes Inside the Lighthouse
“Come for the Sleeping Beauty allusion; stay for the incredible world-building! Fans of fantasy, especially anything fae-related, will find this a very rich, satisfying read.” - Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club and Three Truths and a Lie
ORDER:
Bookshop (supports independent booksellers)
INTERVIEWS/FEATURES:
Interview: Q&A about the relationships in Lava Red Feather Blue at Relationships Are Complicated, January 2022
Video: Molly introduces and reads from Lava Red Feather Blue, December 2020
Video: Molly discusses writing, creativity, the challenges of 2020, and Lava Red Feather Blue in conversation with author Pam Stucky, October 2020