Ximena is the Condesa of Illustria, a refugee nation hidden in the mountains of their home country. Her throne was usurped by the Llacsans, who won the land in a revolt after a decades-long refusal to assimilate with Ximena's people. But Ximena has a secret--she is a decoy. Her friend, Catalina, was switched with Ximena, a war orphan, to keep the true heir safe. When the new king, Atoc, demands that the Condesa marry him, Ximena and Catalina see it as an opportunity to find the Estrella, a legendary stone with vast magical powers. They know the Estrella is concealed somewhere in Atoc's castillo and, if they can find it, they will use it to take back the throne.
Ximena's rash behavior and training as a resistance fighter, however, make Atoc and his confidants suspicious. As her attempts to get word out to Catalina are thwarted, her allies killed and her actions closely watched, Ximena finds help with El Lobo, a mysterious vigilante beloved by her people. El Lobo teaches Ximena the Llacsans' version of their shared country's history and what happened to spark their revolt. As Ximena gets closer to finding the Estrella, she must decide which future she wants for her country: victory through violence or negotiated peace.
Isabel Ibañez's gorgeously written YA debut builds a world that feels true to life with a distinctive magic system at its core. The revolt and the politics between the Illustrians and Llacsans are nuanced and the characters from both groups are fully fleshed individuals with their own motives. Readers are likely to empathize with Ximena's struggles as she attempts to find her true self within her dual identities. Woven in Moonight spins a satisfying tale of adventure, romance and magic. --Clarissa Hadge, bookstore manager, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Boston, Mass.