In the charming first entry of the Traveler series, Binns’s followup to the Magic Toll books, destiny brings two best friends together to save Terra from a demon invasion. After placing her mother in a nursing home for dementia, 21-year-old diminutive human, Betha Dubios is transferring to Saint Luna College on Pack Island, usually reserved for elves, trolls, shifters, vampires, and angelfolk. There she reunites with her BFF Angie, a Shadow Wolf shifter—a species thought to be nearly extinct. At a nearby club, Betha hears a strange buzzing followed by a deadly attack by demons. Betha learns that she is actually one of the very rare Travelers, who guard the Nexus, a group of portals to different worlds through which the demons entered Terra.

Binns builds the action and creates a complex world of politics and fantasy lore. Betha learns to use her Traveler’s powers from Kyra, Terra’s only other Traveler. Kyra tells her that she must stop the demons, who are trying to break the Accords, the fragile treaty that keeps Terra from being invaded by other races through the portals. To help her, Betha must bond with an Anchor, a person who will ground her and keep her soul from getting lost. Betha chooses Angie to be her Anchor. Betha also learns to hone her battle skills from the handsome personal trainer Carter. As Betha and Angie struggle to save Terra, they face obstacles from the powerful council of races that governs Terra, and the long kept secrets of Betha’s mother.

Alternating points of view give the characters breath and distinction as they negotiate feelings of belonging, a sense of identity, and the value of friendship. The worldbuilding is tight, the peril serious, and the writing top notch. Readers will root for the young adults as they strive to make their way in the world.

Takeaway: Fantasy fans will be charmed by this thrilling adventure in a fully fleshed-out world.

Great for fans of: Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti’s Zodiac Academy series, J.M. Miro’s Ordinary Monsters.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A