The Longest Autumn

DEBUTAvery makes her debut with a new adult romantic fantasy. A god must be present to change the seasons, but when herald Tirne and her god Autumn come through a mirror from the gods’ world to the mortal one, it shatters. Tirne, dealing secretly with chronic migraines, is already on edge; being blamed for dwindling food and a new plague is unbearable. Sentenced to manual labor in the temple, she obsessively searches for the real mirror-breaker. But unpicking the mystery means she risks losing her heart. This melancholy tale flirts with romance—Tirne is pursued by both Autumn and a magic user—but the strongest emotions come through when Tirne deals with family and friends. Growing up in a cloister means that ties are complex and layered, and moving to different areas of religious life means changing existing relationships. Avery is at her best when exploring this claustrophobic environment of tension and secrecy. The pacing is slow, mirroring the drag of the yearlong season, and the description is lush. The resolution feels a bit rushed and flattens some interesting concepts, but these may just be debut-novel growing pains.