Novel Most Fair

Stranger at the Wedding by Barbara Hambly

Kyra is about to undergo exams for the next level in the Citadel of Wizards when she receives word that her sister, Alix, is to wed. With the news comes a premonition: Alix's nuptials will be the death of her! Kyra races back to the home she was cast out from, determined to save Alix, no matter the consequences. But the wedding can only be postponed so many times. Disaster will surely strike.

I saw some people on Reddit discussing this book and was hooked by the premise (and that amazing retro cover - I had to purchase it as a secondhand copy online). What a great find! I absolutely loved it. A magical murder mystery...except the murder hasn't occurred yet. Then there's the added bonus of a secondary mystery for the reader: what exactly happened in Kyra's past? Both mysteries unravel with perfect pacing, aided by Hambly's exceptional writing style.

I had to re-check the year this book came out, because it has dated so well. Hambly addresses certain issues in a way that many of her peers of the day couldn't. And her female characters - so amazingly well written! Every single one of them has subtle touches that helped breathe life into them.

I cannot gush about this book enough. It is a masterclass in writing.

Content warnings: sexual assault involving a minor, paedophilia

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