The Night King’s Court coming April 28th, 2026 from HarperCollins; 400 pages
Content Warning: Violence, death
About the Author: “Elisa A. Bonnin was born and raised in the Philippines, after which she moved to the United States to study chemistry and later oceanography. After completing her doctorate, she moved to Germany, where she now works as a scientific writer. A lifelong learner, Elisa is always convinced that she should ‘maybe take a class in something’ and as a result, has amassed an eclectic collection of hobbies. But writing will always be her true love. Publishing a book has been her dream since she was eight years old, and she is thrilled to finally be able to share her stories. She is the author of Dauntless, Stolen City, and Lovely Dark and Deep” (Bio from HarperCollins’ website).
Find Elisa A. Bonnin on the following platforms:
Ida’s father went missing without a trace seven years ago, and neither she or her mother have any clue why—except that before he disappeared he had been in Asteria, where he was acting as the Court Luminaire for King Aurel IV. Determined to find out what happened, Ida runs away from home, using the magic she learned from her father to become the next Court Luminaire and search for answers. There is just one problem: she can’t find any evidence that her father was ever in Asteria. While in Asteria, she meets Lenore, the mysterious illegitimate child of King Aurel, and Vegard, an ice spirit with powerful magic. Together, the three of them work to uncover the truth, and Ida learns more about the secrets of Asteria and her father’s legacy than she ever imagined she would.
This book is a slow burn, but in a way that you don’t notice it moving slowly at all. The Court of Asteria is full of strange and diverse magic put on display for the Revels—events put on to entertain the guests of the court—from illusions summoned with candles to dreams that can be chosen and shared between multiple people. I enjoyed the mystery behind Ida’s father being interlaced with fantastical world-building and intrigue as Ida interacted with members of the court and shared moments with her friends. Bonnin also drops bread crumbs about the lead cast that leave you with questions about them you can’t seem to shake. You’ll spend a lot of the book engaging with the hints about Asteria and Ida’s father, trying to see how it all fits together, so if you like mysteries, you might enjoy this fantasy spin on them. To speak more on relationships, I really appreciated how Ida and Lenore’s connection was handled. In the initial meeting, not unlike real life, there’s uncertainty, and Lenore occupies a lot of Ida’s thoughts. But afterwards, the attraction settles and simmers between them as they search for Asteria’s secrets without completely overshadowing them. It feels natural, almost sapphic, and like an add-on to their dynamic as characters rather than the core of it. I do wish I’d gotten to see a little more of what Ida and Lenore chose to do with that connection, but I was otherwise content with the portrayal of their relationship.
The Night King’s Court releases on April 28th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Julia Smith, Pine Reads Review Writer and Editor