A fast-paced fantasy with a bold lead character and a well-developed fictional world.
A 17-year-old girl contends with otherworldly forces as she sets out to avenge her slain mother in Brown’s YA novel.
For suburbanite Zoey Marie Talbot, mythical creatures like pixies and trolls aren’t just fairy tale characters—they’re real. She’s blessed (or perhaps cursed) with the Sight, an inherited power that allows her to see nonhuman beings that live, work, and travel in the Human Realm; various spells keep their true forms concealed from other humans. Zoey has long been under strict orders to keep her power hidden so as not to attract the attention of the Mythical Council, who killed Zoey’s grandmother. Nevertheless, Zoey plans to register with them when she turns 18; she hates hiding her Sight, and registration would enable her to travel to other realms. However, after a demon murders Zoey’s mother, the teen finds a mysterious ring that her mother had carefully hidden, which fuses itself to her finger; she later discovers that it allows its wearer to access a valuable, secret map, which makes her a target. Then the Council discovers her, and she finds herself subjugated by an authority that’s completely alien to her. Determined to track down her mother’s killer, she reluctantly teams up with a half-demon named Tristan, who warns her that she shouldn’t trust anyone from other realms—not even him. Over the course of this novel, Brown presents a thrilling coming-of-age adventure story in a compelling urban fantasy setting. Zoey, a daring and sometimes-reckless protagonist, narrates the proceedings in a tone that effectively combines earnestness with teenage snark: “Why would anyone care if someone could see through spells? It was such a useless gift. Not like breathing fire or walking through walls.” Excellent worldbuilding conjures an ideal backdrop for plenty of action and misadventures. Readers will note some familiar fantasy-romance elements, especially when it comes to the developing relationship between Zoey and Tristan, but overall, the novel remains fresh and exciting.
A fast-paced fantasy with a bold lead character and a well-developed fictional world.Pub Date: Aug. 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781509255306
Page Count: 318
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2024
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 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
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