Recently released on March 3rd, 2026 from Viking Books for Young Readers, Her Hidden Fire follows Éadha, who discovers she’s able to wield magic. Wanting to help her friend Ionáin—who she secretly loves and who’s on the verge of failing his magic test—Éadha gives up her claim of magic, saying it belongs to him. She helps him pass and claims that her magic is actually his. But with watchful masters around every corner at the academy, keeping up the lie becomes more complicated than she initially expected.
This story has been on my TBR for a while, and seeing the positive reviews from other readers, along with the recommendation from Good Morning America (GMA), has made me even more excited about this debut. I also love that O’Sullivan incorporates Irish names into the story, and the Celtic-inspired illustrations on the book cover add another cultural touch. It makes the book feel rooted in Irish culture, which makes me eager to start reading!
Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind who discovers that fairies are real. Hoping to restore his family’s fortune, he kidnaps Captain Holly Short, a fairy officer, and demands a ransom. This sparks a clever game between Artemis and the hidden fairy world.
I haven’t read Artemis Fowl, but it’s a book my mum tried to get me to read when I was younger. It’s interesting how much of an impact the series has had over the years. Even though the first book came out in the early 2000s, it’s still popular enough today to have received a film adaptation in 2020. It definitely feels like one of those recommendations my mum gives that I’ll get around to eventually.
The Hounds of the Morrigan is a children’s fantasy novel that weaves adventure with Celtic mythology. The story follows siblings Pidge and Brigit as they accidentally come into contact with Queen Morrigan and her hounds. They must use their courage and cleverness to survive encounters with magical creatures while navigating a world unlike their own.
This is exactly the kind of book that makes writing these blog posts so much fun. I love discovering stories that aren’t always widely recommended, and even though this book was published decades ago, the synopsis immediately caught my attention— especially with the mention of Irish mythological creatures! It makes me curious about how they’re incorporated into the story since I’m not very familiar with Celtic mythology myself. It sounds like it could be a perfect read for anyone who enjoys classic Irish folklore.
In this mythological retelling of Children of Lir, the story is told from Aífe’s perspective, giving readers a look at her life and the choices that ultimately lead to the tragic curse placed on Lir’s children. Rather than a simple folktale of good versus evil, the book explores the complicated emotions that shape Aífe’s fate while reimagining a well-known Irish myth.
I always like when authors retell classic myths and show a different side of the story. I also think it’s really cool that the book includes calligrams, which are poems that are shaped like letters from the ancient Irish alphabet, Ogham. It’s such a creative detail and feels like a nice way to connect the story to Irish history and language. As a big fan of mythology from all different cultures, this is definitely a book I’d like to check out soon.
If you’re looking for a little luck this upcoming spring season, hopefully one of these reads finds its way onto your TBR list. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Keonte Emerson, Pine Reads Review Writer, Editor, and Social Media Manager