A chaotic conclusion, best for fervent fans and those who want more romance than Rick Riordan’s novels.
Teen lovers go to Hades and back in this third book.
Small-town 17-year-old singer Daphne Raines is stuck in the Greco-Roman–esque Underrealm, betrothed to Garrick—former servant, current ruler, and increasingly unhinged villain—and missing her magical musical skills, family, and new love, 17-year-old Haden. When a hasty escape brings unexpected powers and alliances, Daphne takes charge to keep the monstrous Keres in the Pits, save the innocents, and get topside. On Earth and in the Skyrealm above it, formal and formerly royal Haden gains humanity as he succumbs to a poisoned-arrow wound and suffers inadequate (but humorous) stop-gap solutions. The third co-narrator, torture-victim Tobin, initially offers little assistance but later proves helpful, as does a crowded cast of disgraced Skylords and diminished deities. Almost all the friends and enemies from previous installments play a role, but early and heavy-handed exposition offers access for new readers while melodramatic reunions, frequent battle scenes, and abundant reversals of fortune keep the story moving. Although Despain weaves in some classical mythology and nods to pop culture, she invests the bulk of her energy in detailing the long-running political and personal feuds of the Underlords and Skylords.
A chaotic conclusion, best for fervent fans and those who want more romance than Rick Riordan’s novels. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5124-0583-5
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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