Inconsistent in tone, with lackluster worldbuilding.
Reeling from a recent family trauma, a teen finds a chosen family in a coven of witches.
Freshman Elliot and his mother, the new vice principal at his Catholic high school, are recent transplants to Los Angeles. Before the move, Elliot’s father died by suicide, an event that was followed by Elliot’s own suicide attempt. On Elliot’s first day at school, a group of students sees evidence of his inherent ability with magic and asks him to join their coven. At an initiation ritual that night, the coven members identify their goals, apparently bringing them about through magical means. For example, sweet Rachel becomes a popular kid after wishing to be cool, and Elliot becomes clairvoyant after wishing to never be taken by surprise again. Meanwhile, an unidentified hooded figure occasionally appears and commands a demonic creature to kill people. This facet of the book’s worldbuilding is unexplained, and these extremely violent scenes feel misplaced in a story that’s otherwise light on horror. The full-color illustrations are cinematic in scope. Most members of the coven are queer, and the group is ethnically diverse; Elliot is white. Delightful queer chosen-family themes aside, the descriptions and portrayals of sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression are in many cases stereotypical or inaccurate.
Inconsistent in tone, with lackluster worldbuilding. (author’s note, character designs, volume 2 preview) (Graphic paranormal. 15-18)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
ISBN: 9781681160849
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Legendary Comics YA
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A fast-paced supernatural mystery ideal for fans of horror games.
The game knows her darkest secret—and it might be trying to kill her.
Wracked with guilt over her little sister’s recent death, 17-year-old Vivian Reynolds leaps at the opportunity to play an online escape room horror game called Locked In that was anonymously emailed to her. In hopes that her return to streaming will help financially support her parents, Viv starts a practice playthrough by herself to test the waters. When the game asks her to confess a secret, Viv admits that she killed her sister. Uncanny events follow in the aftermath of her surreptitious confession, resulting in her parents and peers losing trust in her. With the help of Ash, a fellow social outcast, Viv becomes sure that a demonic clone is trying to ruin her life by committing heinous acts in her name. Told in Viv’s first-person perspective, the story has an eeriness that’s complemented by quippy jokes and gaming references. The plot twists are numerous and satisfying, helping to build suspense as readers try to figure out the mystery. Classic horror imagery is paired with a flawed protagonist who reckons with the guilt and grief caused by her habit of lying and her obsession with streaming. Viv’s mom is white, and her dad is Japanese American; Ash reads white.
A fast-paced supernatural mystery ideal for fans of horror games. (content warning) (Horror. 15-18)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2024
ISBN: 9798890030764
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
An atmospheric, tension-filled fantasy debut.
In an alternate Harlem in 1926 that’s soaked in blood and secrets, former best friends Elise Saint and Layla Quinn grapple with the murders plaguing their city—and the feelings they have for each other.
Vampires, or reapers, abound in Jazz Era Harlem. For 18-year-old Black girls Elise and Layla, the outlook is bleak. Five years ago, Layla lost her parents, became a reaper, and tried to kill her best friend. The attack caused Elise to leave for Paris, but now she’s back for the 10-year anniversary party of the founding of the Saint empire, one built to kill reapers. Layla, armed with a knife, breaks into the Saint mansion, frightens Elise’s younger sister, and confronts Elise. Soon after, Layla is blamed for a vicious attack on Saint associates. The girls find themselves teaming up to investigate, working toward the goal of finding a cure for reaperhood. Elise and Layla’s simmering friction drives the book, making their interactions a highlight. Scenes with other characters sparkle—such as those featuring gangster Jamie (whose loyalties are unclear) and Elise’s confidant, Sterling (a reaper hunter whose white mother fled the Deep South after his Black father was lynched)—while others fall flat, leading to uneven pacing. The worldbuilding is also inconsistent and confusing at times. But this duology opener, packed with themes of racial, emotional, and generational trauma, features gorgeously written prose that will leave readers wanting more.
An atmospheric, tension-filled fantasy debut. (content warning) (Fantasy. 15-18)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728297866
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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