The Ghostwing’s Lie takes readers back to the deeply imagined world of The Mossheart’s Promise and an ongoing exploration of what it means to be a hero, a leader, and part of a family and community.
After Ary Mossheart leads her fairy community out of the rotting terrarium that had been their world, they find welcome with the fairies of Siltshore, who live in a giant treetop village. Ary and the other Terrans are ready for a better life. Ary, however, is having trouble settling in, suspicious that things are too good to be true, and perhaps experiencing lingering trauma from the events of the first book.
Ary’s suspicions are correct, though, and all is not what it seems in Siltshore. Fairies keep disappearing, and soon Ary and fairy friends Owl and Briar, along with pillbug Shrimp and newt Sootflank, feel compelled to find out why. They uncover long-held secrets and confront a new danger that could imperil this world, with no further chance of escape. But is Ary ready to be a hero again? And should her community ask that of her?
Author Rebecca Mix has crafted a compelling continuation of Ary’s story, with imaginative worldbuilding and a plot full of twists. What makes the book really shine, however, as in the first volume, is its nuanced exploration of heroism, bravery, and community. Mix interrogates the “chosen one” trope, asking whether we demand too much of our heroes and not enough of ourselves. We see again the peril of placing too much burden on the next generation, but also the power of chosen family and community to make change. It’s beautifully done without being pedantic, set in an enchanting world that is just scary enough to make us pay attention. Ary and her friends also each face different personal obstacles as they work to save their world, making each character’s arc unique and shedding light on different facets of the underlying themes.
And yes, Ary is queer, and her relationship with her crush deepens in this volume, although it is not a core part of the plot. Both books of the duology are highly recommended.
