A01=Tessa Barbosa
Author_Tessa Barbosa
biracial character
Category=YFD
Category=YFHH
class difference
colonization
community
cultural heritage
danger
dark fantasy
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
eq_bestseller
eq_childrens
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_teenage-young-adult
forthcoming
found family
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
god of death
goddess of death
grief
historical fantasy
imperialism
initiation rituals
lady death
mixed race representation
modern imperialism
monsters
monstrosity
Philippine-American War
Philippines
privilege
racism
revenants
slow burn romance
teen novel
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
war
ya novel
ya novel for fifteen year olds
ya novel for fourteen year olds
ya novel for grade 10
ya novel for grade 11
ya novel for grade 12
ya novel for grade 9
ya novel for seventeen year olds
ya novel for sixteen year olds
young adult novel
Product details
- ISBN 9781668217276
- Dimensions: 140 x 210mm
- Publication Date: 05 Nov 2026
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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For fans of FRANKENSTEIN and THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS, Tessa Barbosa's ISLE OF TEETH is a poignant dark fantasy that centers on two remarkable individuals, each labelled a monster in their own right—their destinies divided by empire, their fates intertwined by Lady Death.
Lady Death always comes to collect.
Matiu Frankel joined the imperial military to escape his childhood: his father’s wretched creations, his witch-mother’s loyalty to Lady Death, and the haunting voice in his own head. With no choice in assignment, however, he returns home to Song—and to a waiting nightmare. A revenant attack waylays his mission and Matiu, being part-Songi, is accused of working with native insurgents. To remove the bounty on his head, Matiu must prove his loyalty to the Lyssian Empire by infiltrating the resistance and capturing the monster they’ve weaponized.
But Calyx is not a monster. A revenant pieced together from animals and dead Songi, yes. Abandoned by her makers to rot on the Isle of Teeth, yes. But not a monster. At least, not yet. Without medicine, Calyx and her siblings risk losing their humanity to Lady Death’s whispers.
Calyx has three weeks to find a cure. Matiu has even less time to clear his name. In their desperation to survive, they turn to each other, becoming entangled in each other’s stories—and in the larger story of empire and resistance. Amidst growing tensions and the echoing calls of the goddess of death, Matiu and Calyx’s relationship transforms into a dark fable about those who have spent their lives with a boot on their neck—and what they would sacrifice to stand tall once more.
Lady Death always comes to collect.
Matiu Frankel joined the imperial military to escape his childhood: his father’s wretched creations, his witch-mother’s loyalty to Lady Death, and the haunting voice in his own head. With no choice in assignment, however, he returns home to Song—and to a waiting nightmare. A revenant attack waylays his mission and Matiu, being part-Songi, is accused of working with native insurgents. To remove the bounty on his head, Matiu must prove his loyalty to the Lyssian Empire by infiltrating the resistance and capturing the monster they’ve weaponized.
But Calyx is not a monster. A revenant pieced together from animals and dead Songi, yes. Abandoned by her makers to rot on the Isle of Teeth, yes. But not a monster. At least, not yet. Without medicine, Calyx and her siblings risk losing their humanity to Lady Death’s whispers.
Calyx has three weeks to find a cure. Matiu has even less time to clear his name. In their desperation to survive, they turn to each other, becoming entangled in each other’s stories—and in the larger story of empire and resistance. Amidst growing tensions and the echoing calls of the goddess of death, Matiu and Calyx’s relationship transforms into a dark fable about those who have spent their lives with a boot on their neck—and what they would sacrifice to stand tall once more.
Tessa Barbosa is a Filipina Canadian author who writes fantasy novels by night and software help by day. The Moonlight Blade was her debut novel, and Isle of Teeth is her second work for young adults. Tessa lives in Vancouver, Canada, with her children, an anxious cat, and a growing plant collection. Find out more at tessabarbosa.com.
