This book was SO GOOD! I love seeing autism rep in fantasy novels, especially because a lot of fantast doesn't include disability in their worldbuilding. As an autistic myself, being able to place myself in fantasy worlds is very very exciting and important. Would recommend this book to all of my autistic bookish friends!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the eGalley to review!

I largely enjoyed this book! Of course, my favorite thing about it is the fact that the main character is autistic, something that is explicitly stated by the autistic author who wanted to write a story based on the theory that changeling mythology is an early description of autistic children. As someone who exhibits a lot of the same traits as Seelie, I was happy to be represented by this main character while reading. She's also purposely flawed, being immature and self-centered--something that I also struggled with, especially around her age when I, too, really only had one best friend.

Her changeling nature is why she and her twin sister Isolde (who is her counterpart) were driven to a life of thievery, as Seelie made the townsfolk uneasy and feeling threatened, especially after a fatal accident. Isolde has gone with her to keep her safe and because she refuses to leave Seelie's side. To prevent their parents from worrying or being burdened by Seelie's unwanted attention, Seelie takes away their memories of them and those memories become several little flowers she keeps in a glass vial on a necklace. The twins agree that once they have enough money, Seelie will return their memories and they will leave to go somewhere they don't have to worry about people treating them horribly for Seelie being a changeling.

Enter the very risky heist of Wildline Manor, home to the richest and most powerful enchanter in the area. This doesn't go entirely well and suddenly the twins are thrown into a cat-and-mouse chase and forced alliance with a pair of other thieves who were doing the same heist. Danger and life-altering revelations abound and threaten the twins' relationship as well as their lives.

It was absolutely an interesting story that is going to be getting a sequel, and I simply love how the faerie/fairy realms/mythology is used and re-imagined in a fresh take. There were some stilted moments and the subplot romance budding between Seelie and Raze (one of the other two thieves they became stuck with) is awkward, but, like, more awkward than it needs to be even with Seelie's own awkwardness and inexperience. It almost feels a bit tacked on sometimes and other times it feels really genuine. But other than that, I did enjoy the character developments and interpersonal relationships between the main cast. I can't wait to read the next installment!

Get ready to dive into a world of magic and mystery with Ivelisse Housman's "Unseelie." The book follows Iselia, a changeling who's struggling to find her place in the human and faerie worlds. Along with her sister, she's on the run from a malevolent enchanter, and as they attempt to evade capture, they team up with two intriguing characters to unravel a gripping mystery.
The protagonist, Seelie, is a lovable character with a relatable blend of kindness, courage, and self-doubt. Her bond with her sister is genuine and their differences make them inseparable. The supporting cast of Sol, Raze, and Olani adds depth to the story, and their interactions with Seelie are a joy to read.
The world-building is expertly crafted, and the gradual reveal of information maintains a steady pace. The second half of the book is packed with action, with twists and turns that will keep readers riveted. While the chemistry between characters could be stronger, there's a fun romantic subplot.
What sets this book apart is the inclusion of an autistic protagonist. The author's personal note at the end is poignant, highlighting the fact that autistic individuals are diverse and often misunderstood.
Overall, "Unseelie" is a fantastic read, and the author's exploration of magic and representation of an autistic character make this book a standout.

I loved this story! The representation of an autistic main character and making that their magic, love!! This one got me hooked right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down.

It had all the things I would have loved in a book—relatable characters, dragons and shapeshifters, and a fascinating magic system; But I struggled with the voice and the writing so much that I found it difficult to get into.
I spent much of the book bored because it was action after action after action without much time to breathe, and it felt too repetitive, especially in the middle. I was left wanting more from the plot and from the characters and their interactions. I found myself skimming certain parts because I didn’t want to read another scene where they were running or fighting.
That said, there was a lot to like. The relationships within the narrative were well-written and intriguing. It had an absolutely brilliant enemies-to-lovers arc that made my heart happy. Seelie and Isolde had a really great sister relationship too—and it felt very realistic, with the back and forth between them and a lot of the tension in their relationship.
I do recommend this book—but I also think it’s one of those books with writing that isn’t going to be loved by every reader.

This was a very creative and thought-provoking novel. I really like that the heroine is very autistic. I also liked the world-building and thought that it was well-developed. I also adore the romance at the end! The only thing I did not like about this novel was that it was slow at times! Nevertheless, this is a very interesting novel, and I look forward to the sequel!

Unseelie gives neurodivergent and autistic readers Iselia, a heroine who embarks on a quest that allows herself to accept her power and embrace her identity.

A powerful read, Unseelie captures the reader’s attention all while following Iselia, also known as Seelie, on an adventure to find treasure with her twin sister.

Brilliant Characterization

What I loved most about Unseelie was Iselia and what she represented. Iselia is autistic. She is high functioning, but at times, it also appears that she is neurodivergent. Iselia struggles a lot with her identity as a changeling. As a changeling, she is not her sister’s twin but a fae imitation. Their mother went into the fae courts and left with both children instead of choosing one over the other.

This incident also gave Seelie fae powers that she sometimes struggles to control, resulting in an incident that forced her and her sister to go on the run and turn to a life of thievery.

Seelie struggles with the magic that runs through her veins and feels less than human. Her sister, Isolde, loves her dearly, and together they have carved a life for themselves in their enchanted wagon. But when a heist goes wrong and not only saddles them with a pair of partners and the ire of a powerful enemy, Seelie is forced to learn to embrace her magic.

I love her personality and her struggles, not to mention how she sees the world. Through her mannerisms and thought process, anyone reading this can tell that she is on the spectrum. However, that is not because it relies on stereotypes or tropes.

Iselia is a very real person, and the reader can tell the author, who is autistic, used her personal experiences to give her life. The way Seelie processes the world and information, the way she struggles to express her feelings and thoughts, show the reader who she is and how she struggles every day, not only with others but also with accepting herself.

This makes Unseelie very descriptive, but that only adds to the story and plot, making for some tense moments and some humorous ones.

What also worked really well were those character dynamics. The characters push Iselia, accept her, and together they form their little family, saving one another from their enemies.

Final Thoughts
From beginning to end, Unseelie was immersive. Seelie is on a journey toward acceptance and embracing her power. And the cliffhanger and baby dragon at the ending has me itching to get my hands on the sequel.

Although I am a huge fan of a YA fantasy, Unseelie seems to hold my interest, but there is something missing. Learning of the changelings are considered children on the spectrum is a positive aspect of the story as well as a young woman fighting to find herself among lies and mystical creatures. As I moved through the story, I just couldn’t grasp the purpose of their adventure and who they were running away from. The book is entertaining, but I think we have read much better fantasies.

This book is a pure example of a comfort read. I absolutely loved it from beginning to end!! I will he continuing this series as well as checking out other works from this author.

Ivelisse Housman's "Unseelie" is a mesmerizing journey into the depths of darkness and enchantment that will captivate readers from start to finish. This novel, the first installment in the "Fae Court" series, stands as a testament to Housman's exceptional storytelling prowess, weaving together elements of urban fantasy, folklore, and romance into a tale that is both hauntingly beautiful and relentlessly gripping.

3/5

Many thanks to Netgalley for an eARC of this book for me to review.

While the book sounded really interesting, I simply could not get into it. The beginning felt like a whirlwind and I remember losing interest, and ultimately wasn't able to finish it. Having a physical copy might help me finish it, so my opinion might change, but for now it was nothing that I would recommend only because I wasn't captured by it.

The book is refreshing by exploring fantasy tropes in ways that haven’t been done before. I enjoyed that the book touched on characters who are changelings being coded as autistic. I would’ve loved a deeper exploration of the main character. Despite enjoying some aspects of the book, I think it leans toward a younger YA audience which made it more difficult for me to connect to. I won’t continue on with the series, however if the author published an adult series I’d be interested in picking it up.

I really enjoyed this book. I walk recommend middleschool to high school ages. The fae world was not as indepth as I would have liked it to be, but it still had that fun element of supernatural. Seelie was a great character and I loved that the author created character with autism. Seelie faces a lot of different hardships between friends and her sister, which was fun to read, but also relatable. I will very excited to continue reading her story in the next book.

Sisters. Autistic rep. Fae. I love fae. Can we have more fae books please? That get trad rep.

The writing was good, the characters were excellent, I enjoyed the world and the pacing. The read was fun, it was immersive l, and I can’t wait until the second one.

dnf @ 37%. not for any particular reason, just wasn't compelled to pick it up ever. might return to at a later date, just not the vibe rn.

This was a great story of family and adventure, with beautifully explored characters, rich world building, and lush writing. There was a variety of very much so appreciated representation, particularly in having an autistic MC written by an autistic author. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

"Stories tell of children stolen away by faeries, replaced by inhuman lookalikes. These look-alikes, they say, could be identified by their strange speech or silence. They cried without reason or never showed any emotion at all, and struggled to relate to a world that seemed foreign to them. Folklorists theorize that these stories were early descriptions of autistic children — proof that autistic people have always been here. But once, they called us changelings."

Following the story through the eyes of Iselia (Seelie), we learn about the fantastical world they live in, where the human and faerie world exist side-by-side. Once they were able to move freely between these worlds, but after a war where a fae wanted to rule both, this was taken away. There is only certain places and times when there is the ability for moving between these realms. When Seelie and her sister, Isolde, ran away from home after Seelie's changeling magic got out of hand. They steal to make a living, moving from place to place. When they break into the home of the greatest enchantress, Leira Wildfall, they find a compass and an entity tied to this compass, which could lead them to a 'great treasure'. Thing is that the compass doesn't work, until Seelie touched it and it melted into her hand. Now she is the compass. There is a great adventure with a lot of fights along the way to find this treasure.

Learning what the author wanted to accomplish with this book and the character she created in Seelie, makes all the difference. Once you know you read this book through a different lens. I am more than ready to read book two, and having to wait is no fun at all. The world, the story and the characters are wonderful, strong, and strange, in all the best ways. I just want to fall back into this world the minute it ended.

As someone who is autistic, I think this novel was an amazing way to incorporate this representation into fantasy. I will be buying the next book as soon as I hear about it!

Quick Review: More In-depth review will be written

Pros:
- Beautiful Cover
- Autism Representation

Cons:
- Slow Pacing
- Excessive Details
- Unable to connect with characters
- Uninteresting Romance
- Messy Plot.

This is just not for me. I won't be continuing the series.

I enjoyed this title and purchased for our collection. It was originally requested for a program, to be shared at book talks.