OUR WICKED GIFTS, by Kathryn Foxfield, Random House Books for Young Readers, July 7, 2026, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
The daughter of a sinister magical family who would do anything for power must stop the man killing them off, one by one, in Our Wicked Gifts, by Kathryn Foxfield.
Cicely is the black sheep daughter of the powerful Winter family, who made a cruel bargain in exchange for riches and ruthless magic. Soren is the boy her family banished to the underworld. Their fates intertwine when Cicely’s loathsome Uncle Dorian winds up dead at a masquerade ball.
Once overlooked for her lowly gift of discovering secrets, Cicely is now her family’s only chance at survival, tasked with finding the killer before he takes out every last Winter. With time running out, Cicely narrows her sights on Soren, who she suspects is back for vengeance.
Yet the more Cicely investigates Soren–and gets to know him–the more she begins to question how much family loyalty is worth. After all, when it comes to being a Winter, one can have love or power, but rarely both… —Synopsis provided by Random House Books for Young Readers
Our Wicked Gifts is a dark fantasy mystery — with a bit of romance — featuring a family that’s about to fall from the height of society and power.
The story follows Cicely, the odd child out in the Winter family. Cicely dreams of doing what she wants, when she wants, but she’s subject to the whims of her distant mother who sees little value in her child. Cicely is a morally grey character that’s far from perfect, yet you want to see her succeed. She’s smart and willing to look where the evidence pushes her, even when it hurts.
Our Wicked Gifts works as a mystery, romance and fantasy novel because author Kathryn Foxfield has built it from the ground up. Solid world and magic building are paired with well-constructed characters that feel weighted in her reality.
Foxfield’s plot is intricate, with plenty of twists and turns that surprise you even when you think you know exactly what’s going to happen. Foxfield’s pacing is strong, with lots of excitement tempered with moments of exploration.
Our Wicked Gifts is an enjoyable upper YA read for fans of contemporary fantasy books with a dark undertone.
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