"... Tait's writing pulls the reader into Vandy's world with striking descriptions that vividly capture the settings, and introduces the characters in a few deft strokes, making them lifelike and believable ... A promising historical fantasy series debut ..."--
Kirkus Reviews
Trick rider in a traveling circus
, seventeen-year-old Vandemere (Vandy) Petruska is caught between two worlds. As Vandy
Davidson
, he lives the legacy of the father who abandoned him, performing on his beloved horses in the circus ring. But he's also his Romanian mother's son. As Vandy
Petruska
, he seeks to deny the tarot
magie
his mother has gifted to him. But as the
magie's
power over him grows stronger, he becomes aware that the bad luck in his life isn't an accident. When his Romanian ancestors immigrated to America on the back of a trick horse, they brought something with them. Something evil. Now this evil is attacking
him
, and Vandy will have to learn to accept his mother's
if he is ever going to defeat the entity that has marked him for death. Set against the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the 1930s American Southwest,
Vandemere
is a lyrical coming-of-age story that infuses magical realism into a young man's journey towards manhood.
is part one of a duology and the first book in the series. For the best experience, the author suggests reading
first.
Fire Horse
is the second book of the series. It is possible to read the books out of sequence but not recommended. This book is a gritty depiction of life in the 1930s American Southwest. It includes but is not limited to violence, coarse language, sexual situations, and self-harm. Some of its darker themes might be triggering to sensitive readers. Please use discretion when deciding if this book is right for you.