A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance.
In Smith’s fantasy series starter, a teenage superhero faces the gravest peril of his young life when two near-immortal figures start kidnapping young boys off the streets.
Seventeen-year-old billionaire graphic novelist Will Dreycott’s biggest secret is that when he sleeps, he becomes the Dream Rider—a masked vigilante whose ability to enter the world of other people’s dreams allows him to help solve crimes by feeding the information he collects to journalist Harry Lyle, who passes it on to the police. While awake, Will is a mild-mannered, successful creative artist, effectively trapped inside his tower in Toronto due to agoraphobia that began when his parents went missing eight years ago. After Harry asks for his help to investigate the disappearance of a number of houseless boys, Will meets Case, a 16-year-old girl whose younger brother, Fader, has been kidnapped. Case is desperate for help to save her sibling, and although she doesn’t trust the cops, she feels a connection with Will. As the pair start to fall for each other, they tangle with the fabled witch Morrigan and her lover, Marell, who have dark plans for the boys they’ve abducted and who possess powers that the Dream Rider fears he can’t face. Smith’s introduction to the Dream Rider Saga is a multilayered fantasy that pays homage to familiar superhero tropes—including the Batman-esque orphaned, rich vigilante—while adding a nice dose of magic and mystery to the mix. The story is character-driven and richly developed, highlighting Will’s fears of facing his enemies alone (“He was the only person left to stop a crazed super villain. And he didn’t have the slightest clue what to do”), Case’s ongoing struggle to avoid vulnerability, and the villainous Morrigan’s inner conflict. Other characters display uncanny powers like Will’s, and the mystery surrounding Will’s parents’ disappearance provides tantalizing information for future installments.
A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance.Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2022
ISBN: 9781928048329
Page Count: 381
Publisher: Spiral Path Publications
Review Posted Online: Nov. 29, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 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
Frustratingly slow and lacking in magical wonder.
Despite living her happily-ever-after, Evangeline can’t help but strive to recover her lost memories in this trilogy closer.
Evangeline Fox awakens in the strong arms of Prince Apollo, her apparent husband, who swears to protect her from the evil Lord Jacks, who stole her memories. Unfortunately, Evangeline remembers nothing of her long and complex journey in the Magnificent North or her past romances; only the pain in her heart lets her know something is missing. At Wolf Hall, Evangeline seeks ways to unlock her missing memories, including enlisting the help of a mysterious guard named Archer, even as Apollo’s behavior becomes more and more controlling. The pacing and plot feel stagnant at first, with Evangeline remembering things in flashes and moments of brief feelings, but things finally pick up once her memories return. With the point of view rotating among Evangeline, Apollo, and Jacks, there are few narrative surprises, but it’s intriguing to delve into the minds of an antagonist and a Fate. The story’s inclusion of the legendary Valors and the fantastical fairy-tale setting are unfortunately overshadowed by the love triangle’s dramatic tug-of-war romance. Likewise, the book’s various themes—power, hope, stories, and the nature of humanity—are of interest but handled in an unfocused way. The conclusion, at least, is satisfying, and it hints at future tales set in this world. Evangeline, Jacks, and Archer read white; Apollo has dark hair and olive skin.
Frustratingly slow and lacking in magical wonder. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9781250851208
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
