A bright, superbly developed cast headlines this unhurried but colorful series opener.
Teens search for ancient relics amid the reemergence of a dormant evil in Rehfus-Wilsek’s debut YA fantasy.
The Arcana Academy of Boven Naturals welcomes students for a new semester. This elite school, located in the capital city of the Boven Naturals Universe, teaches all five of this world’s magical species; Paige Connatis, for example, is a teen “Nativus” whose usually lilac-toned skin changes colors with her emotions. At the academy, she’ll hone her native scientific magic (technological enchantments) and learn to control two forms of wild magic. Her new roommate is Ceyonne Ustrina, a “Caudate” who’s essentially a dragon-human hybrid, complete with scales, a prehensile tail; fire is her native element. They befriend one another as well as other students representing the remaining three species and their associated elements: winged “Sylphs” (air), muscular dwarf-like “Kobolds” (earth), and glowing-skinned “Naiads” (water). Soon a group of nine friends coalesces and becomes fixated on the Shadow Ankhs, powerful artifacts supposedly hidden for thousands of years. The teens believe the prophesied Cinquain Henten—five individuals destined to find the Ankhs—are among them. The prophecy also predicts the dissipation of wild magic and the reawakening of the diabolical, power-hungry NullMaji. Tracking down the relics is harder than it sounds (it involves riddles) and some may not want the friends to succeed—there’s a break-in at the Academy’s library and a professor mysteriously vanishes. Which of the teens make up the Cinquain Henten, and will their hunt for the Ankhs really end in a battle with the NullMaji?
As the first in a prospective series, Rehfus-Wilsek’s tale zeroes in on introducing its effervescent characters. Paige and the others not only showcase diverse magical species but also hail from a variety of backgrounds. Much of this narrative is taken up by searching for and researching artifacts without providing many details about what the Ankhs specifically are or what the teens plan to do with them once they find them. As such, the pacing is leisurely; even with the relic hunt at the forefront, the story certainly isn’t the “adventure” or “quest” that the text continually hints at. Still, engaging tensions between the friends gradually build, as there are only five Cinquain Henten and four of the teens are bound to be disappointed. At the same time, the High Consul has eyes on them (as the prophecy seems to be coming true) and may want to get to the Ankhs first. Plentiful scenes unfold on the Academy’s campus, which the author vividly describes, highlighting the “fragrance of freshly mowed grass,” the library’s “towering shelves,” and the high-ceilinged dining hall with magical orbs floating in the air. The ending unquestionably sets the stage for a second outing and the much-promised quest.
A bright, superbly developed cast headlines this unhurried but colorful series opener.Pub Date: June 14, 2023
ISBN: 9798765780589
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Kendall Hunt Publishing
Review Posted Online: July 5, 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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
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