A crown so silver

In Selene's woodsy and romantic second Fair Folk fantasy (after A Feather So Black), a changeling heroine challenges her evil sister for control of the magical, Celtic-inspired land of Tir na nOg. Fia returns to life after sacrificing herself to the Heartwood tree and discovers that she now possesses strange powers to raise winds and shatter trees. She must learn to wield this magic if she's going to defeat her sister, Eala, and free her childhood flame, Rogan, from enchantment. She must also sort out her conflicted feelings for her equally doting and domineering husband, Irian. Together, Fia and Irian set off to a remote island to compete in a Hunger Games--style tournament with a dazzling prize: the Oak King's crown. After Irian forces Fia out of the games in the interest of saving her life, she finds a new ally in the king's hedonist son, Wayland, Irian's half-brother. Though there are no big ideas on offer, the mix of fantasy and romance feels just right. Selene's fantastical cityscapes dazzle, the outfit descriptions are to die for, and there's plenty of fairy dust to cover the Freudian mating rituals as the bride and her overly protective groom tumble into all kinds of exotic sacks. With ample emotional turmoil and plenty of tantalizing questions left open for future installments, this will have readers hooked. (Jan.)