Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya (review)

Reviewed by: Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya Aaren Tucker Montoya, Angela Sinner's Isle. Joy Revolution/Random House, 2023 [384p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593643334 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593643358 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 In the island kingdom of Coronado, Sinner's Isle is the prison for the Majestics—women like Rosalinda, who have magic and whose shadows can do nearly anything, including controlling other's bodies or even squeezing the life from them. The Majestics live on the isle until they come of age and are presented to the nation's most wealthy and powerful in the Offering, forever tying their powers and their very lives to the highest bidder. Rosa is desperate to avoid such a fate, but when she and her best friend Juana are caught trying to escape the isle, Juana is imprisoned and used as leverage to force Rosa into submission. Rosa has other plans, stealing a gem from a dashing young pirate and using it as leverage for his aid in finding Juana and helping them escape. The gem is Mariano's inheritance from his piratical parents, but Mariano finds himself drawn more to the beautiful and dangerous Majestic than to his own destiny. Time is not on their side, though, as the [End Page 109] Offering ceremonies continue; the sharks are circling the Majestics, and Rosa and her shadows are the most coveted prize of all. Montoya sets a brisk, thrilling pace and breathes life into a rich fantasy filled with side characters as deep and lovable as its leads. Rosa is held back by her fear of her own power, while Mariano must overcome his machismo-filled upbringing to seek the most important treasures of love and family in this romantic, swashbuckling adventure perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo. Readers who enjoy high drama, romance, and political intrigue will be glad to know a sequel is in the works. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois