A uniquely twisted if unevenly executed dark fantasy duology opener.
Tainted magic and a father’s twisted nature unite an heir and a runaway.
Like royals before her, Mancella entered the Broken Citadel at age 8 and emerged with the magic to summon animals—albeit at a fearsome price. Over the years since, she’s endured the manipulations of her father, the Prime, hoping that her sacrifices as heir apparent can protect others. Silver, a young thief on the run from the Prime’s draconian Academy, strikes a deal with a shadowy figure to secure a better future for himself. Disguised as a servant, he infiltrates the castle grounds with the goal of seducing and double-crossing Mancella. When her father’s demands cross a line, Mancella is drawn to Silver and the rebellious plot he’s a part of, causing both to vacillate between duty and lust. This gruesome book is not for the faint of heart, but those who can stomach Mancella’s brutal acts of violence toward animals (which are balanced by depictions of the emotional toll of these acts) will find elements to relish. Though Silver’s character development is not as robust as Mancella’s, their romance still simmers. This debut’s worldbuilding and lore are ambitiously sketched but ultimately let down by generic language and other missed opportunities for more robust development. The leads’ alternating first-person narration highlights divisions between the social classes in this vaguely European historical setting. Main characters are cued white.
A uniquely twisted if unevenly executed dark fantasy duology opener. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781250331687
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
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
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
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