Forgive-Me-Not

Gr 9 Up–On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Princess Aisling is kidnapped and finds out that she is a changeling who was swapped at birth. The true princess, named Forgive-Me-Not, is a rough young woman who has endured multiple misfortunes and has become a hardened warrior. The two are antagonists at first, but eventually Aisling’s kindness begins to soften Not’s heart. They tentatively begin to respect one another, move onward to friendship, and soon start to fall for one another. Despite the trope of enemies-to-lovers, readers will cheer for the two to overcome the challenges ahead and to combat the fey’s evil plans. The author and illustrator, Mari Costa, has created a fully realized kingdom with whimsical art that makes looking at the pages a delight. Varied panel placements and a pleasing color palette add to the narrative.