A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year, 2025
One of Kirkus Reviews‘ 90 Most Anticipated Fall Books for Young Readers, 2025
One of Indigo’s Best Ten Books of 2025
PRAISE FOR Bad in the Blood:
“This noir-inspired mystery unfolds in vivid and atmospheric prose from the perspectives of the two complex and dynamic leads. News articles, diary entries, and other evidence interspersed between chapters adds another lens for understanding the setting, history, and intricately intertwined political conflict. Cerilli’s use of Faerie Disorder as an extended metaphor for neurodivergence is rich with nuance, and the world is infused with queerness and racial diversity. A cinematic and enthralling flare of fey magic.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“Cerilli transports readers into a world that is a rich blend of the 1920s, noir, steampunk, and fantasy. And, to top it all off, it is unapologetically queer. . . . An excellent choice for mystery lovers, fantasy lovers, or those who want a unique faerie tale.” —Booklist
“Beautifully hewn and enchantingly queer, Bad in the Blood draws the reader into a 1920s-inspired whodunnit that unravels in a world similar enough to our own that we can easily relate to the sibling duo of Gristle and Hawthorne, yet so unique that we want to stay and explore every corner of Cerilli’s richly imagined world long after the mystery is solved. At last, a hardboiled noir detective story for the rest of us!” —Carrie Mac, author of Zombie Apocalypse Running Club
“With grit, wit, and incredible worldbuilding, Cerilli interweaves a noir, 1920’s-inspired setting with fantasy using feyism as a sophisticated allegory for madness. This novel is nothing short of magic.” —Léa Taranto, author of A Drop in the Ocean
“A viciously clever caper steeped in noir grittiness and fey chaos. Puck’s Port will devour you.” —Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
“Bad in the Blood is a refreshing take on the traditional Sherlock Holmes detective-style adventure, only with heart, fey, and magic. What I love about this novel is that it’s also exactly why I love fantasy—it’s not just an escape but helps readers understand real-world harms and discriminations in a way that makes them excited, curious, and want to read more. Cerilli is a uniquely talented writer whose characters are real, flawed and loveable. Bad in the Blood isn’t just for young adult readers, but for everyone.” —KJ Aiello, author of The Monster and the Mirror
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