A haunting curse, a sweet romance, and a bewitching magic system enchantingly meld together in this gorgeously written fantasy.
Lily Bellamy and Andresh Zatavier are each haunted by the loss of a parent in their childhoods. For Lily, the haunting is literal—visions of her mother’s corpse follow her reflection. For Andresh, the haunting is emotional—a deep distress about death that evolves into a dangerous desire to stop it.
At twelve, Lily is used to her Mother running off. Just as it is certain that she will run off, she is certain to return, bedraggled but unharmed. That is, until one day, she doesn’t.
Lily, with her best friend and neighbor, Andresh, and their fathers, set out into the vast woods to find Lily’s mother, but it’s too late. She has filled her pockets and sunk herself in the marsh, a sight Lily won’t soon forget.
From that moment on, Lily sees visions of her mother in her reflection, which she quickly learns to avoid, and smells an unshakeable, sickening smell. But there’s more tragedy to come when Andresh’s father dies unexpectedly, and Andresh must move to Sindalia, where his remaining family lives.
“The mirror clouded up. My reflection was clear, but the space behind me was empty, save for a blooming cloud of dark, swampy colors. A greenish-gray hand clutched my shoulder. My body jerked as I felt the fingers dig in, but when I reached to tear the hand away from me, I touched nothing. Nothing was there, and yet in the mirror, the hand remained.”
At eighteen, Lily still avoids mirrors. Visceral visions of her Mother’s corpse, physically reaching out to her and begging Lily to save her, await her in every reflection. So when Andresh finally returns to Lily with the belief that he can free her of her curse, it’s hard to resist, even though it will require stepping into unfamiliar and potentially dangerous territory: Sindalian magic.
The Name and the Key follows Lily and Andresh as they navigate their blooming feelings for each other, tricky demons, and precarious magic. The story beautifully balances loss and love amidst risk, mistakes, and uncertainty, in a world populated with realistic, young characters trying to figure it all out.
In crisp and captivating prose, Butke introduces an alluring magic system wielded “by Word, by Deed, and by Will.” The range of the magic in this world is thoroughly compelling, as we learn how each person has their own “fire,” their life force, which can be drawn in or out, or even traded away to demons. The system is unique but never difficult to follow and is unveiled throughout the entirety of the book, which will appeal to readers looking to try fantasy for the first time. The magic, and all the possibilities of it that are yet to be explored, will keep you turning pages.
“‘I want you to,’ I said, breaking the silence.
‘Want me to what?’
‘Kiss me.’”
Effortlessly woven amidst the magic is a gentle, budding romance. Lily and Andresh’s relationship is a slowly crescendoing sprinkle of sweetness in the novel. Their relationship feels natural and effortless, a pleasant addition to the turbulence of the magic, the curse, and the life around them.
The Name and the Key is for fantasy lovers (or fantasy newbies) who aren’t afraid of a little darkness with a dash of romance. If you’re looking for a romantasy trilogy that will leave you clawing for the next book, The Name and the Key is an obvious, satisfying choice.
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