The Glittering Edge

By: Alyssa Villaire

Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly

Penny Emberly is caught in a magical feud in order to save her mother's life – perfect for fans of Tracy Wolff and Maggie Stiefvater.

Rumors are the lifeblood of Idlewood, Indiana. The locals whisper that the De Lucas are witches, and that decades prior they cursed the wealthy Barrion family as revenge for a love gone tragically wrong: now, if a Barrion falls in love with you, you’ll die. If this isn’t reason enough for wallflower Penny Emberly to stay away from both families, she doesn’t know what is. But when Penny’s mom is in an accident that leaves her on the brink of death, Penny can’t ignore the rumors anymore—because the Barrion curse is real. And her mom is its latest victim.

In order to save her mom’s life, Penny must bring together two bitter enemies on either side of the feud and work with them to break the curse. For star quarterback Corey Barrion, doing so would mean finally saving his family from the magic that killed his mom. And for misfit witch Alonso De Luca, it would mean convincing everyone in Idlewood—especially Penny—that he isn’t the villain they believe him to be.

But as the trio navigates Alonso's unpredictable magic, the tangled web of Barrion-De Luca history, and an increasingly chaotic group chat, it soon becomes clear that the curse is not what they expected. Did a De Luca really curse the Barrions in a fit of jealousy, or is something even more sinister afoot? Penny will have to conquer her anxiety, wrestle with her budding feelings for Alonso, and delve into dangerous, forbidden magic to find the truth and save her mom -- even if it means putting her own life at risk.

©2025 Alyssa Villaire (P)2025 Little, Brown Young Readers

Critic reviews

"The Glittering Edge has all the ingredients of a mesmerizing read: dark curses, generational secrets and plenty of desperate, aching love to go around. Every page turn will plunge you deeper into the depths of Elkie Lake and further into the heart of this wholly original story that manages to be both completely fantastical and totally real."—Ginny Myers Sain, New York Times bestselling author of Dark & Shallow Lies.

“As heartfelt as it is propulsive, THE GLITTERING EDGE combines magical, mysterious atmosphere with a familiar small-town feel. The characters are layered and emotionally compelling, and Villaire excels at portraying their complex relationships. This is truly the type of story that manages to feel both fresh and timeless.”—M.K. Lobb, Author of the Seven Faceless Saints duology

"The Glittering Edge is a riveting, witchy debut wrapped in eerie mystery and dark magic. The electric romance and complicated relationships had me glued to the pages." —Emily J. Taylor, New York Times best-selling author of Hotel Magnifique and The Otherwhere Post

"With deadly curses, forbidden love, feuding families, and an ending that left me clutching my pearls, The Glittering Edge is my new obsession." —Angela Montoya, author of Sinner's Isle and A Cruel Thirst