Spiritually tinged YA fantasy that may cast a spell over fans of the Twilight Saga.
An alienated high schooler, relocated to tourist destination Mount Shasta in California, finds that she’s descended from a secret group of warring nonhumans with supernatural aspects.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Blake has long felt like the odd one out in her family. She’s redhaired, unlike any of her relatives, and overprotected by her mother, Eleanor, with whom she lives; her father, Nathan, who lives elsewhere, has always favored her older sister, Jenna. Ellie also keeps it a secret that she can see human auras. After Eleanor dies of cancer, Ellie and Jenna go to live with their father in Northern California’s Mount Shasta region, where he’s inherited an inn catering totourists who frequent the area, lured by rumors of Bigfoot and a lost civilization of “Lemurians,” who supposedly dwell within the mountain. After glimpsing a phantom of a girl, Ellie learns that Lemurians exist; they’re a long-lived, nonhuman species with occult powers. At some point in their teenage years,a Lemurian must choose to be either a magic-wielding Mystic or a potentially lethal Vampire who feeds off the life-energy of others—including unwitting humans. A schism developed between the branches, and now Vampires are hunting and killing Mystics, with unaffiliated young Changelings caught in the middle. It turns out Lemurian-descended Ellie is a Changeling herself, and one of illustrious lineage. The novel’s lost-world premise is one of the oldest in pulp fantasy, but the tone here trends closer to Stephenie Meyer than Edgar Rice Burroughs; the settings here aren’t dazzling kingdoms, but bioluminous caves, glades, public parks, crystal-souvenir shops, and teenage hangouts as the mythic Lemurians lurk amid ignorant humans. There’s a tantalizing suggestion that the bulk of Lemurian territory might abide in an alternate dimension. For the most part, though, it feels as if this sequel-ready outing could plug in cast members of other popular YA paranormal series without changing its story too much. A niche readership may also enjoy the Mount Shasta and Trinity National Park place names and ambiance.
Spiritually tinged YA fantasy that may cast a spell over fans of the Twilight Saga.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 337
Publisher: Mystic Forest Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 29, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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