An impressive first installment with a remarkable, series-worthy hero.
An extraordinary teen girl may be the chosen one to halt an imminent war in this launch of a prospective YA fantasy series.
Maya Dempsey plans to compete in the Cluiche, an annual event in the Leigheasan sect, one of four sects in the land of Sori. Though females take part in a trivia contest, the physical competitions, from archery to jousting, are traditionally male only. Maya, however, is more than capable in these and other skills. Leigheasan can control elements, but they are prohibited from doing so during certain Cluiche contests. But when a fellow contestant uses a fire element against Maya, she retaliates with her own. Not only was Maya unaware she could control elements, she also didn’t know that she could wield all four—a singular trait among her people. Some suspect she’s the chosen one to “rebalance” power in Sori. Indeed, the goddess Nantosuelta has granted Maya various powers, and there are more on the way. Maya soon uncovers a plan to provoke war among the sects, which include the werewolflike Galenvargs, the vampirish Veirlintus, and the merely human Duines. Though she’s increasing her potent supernatural abilities and weapons, Maya is up against a formidable opponent. This shadowy villain, who goes by Dullahan, practices “the forbidden,” which entails imprisoning souls. Meanwhile, signs of a potential war include the missing shipments of the Veirlintus’ and the Galenvargs’ food supply (i.e., the blood of Duine prisoners). Maya tries to warn people of impending conflict and defend them whenever possible, soon realizing that Dullahan isn’t the greatest menace.
As this is an opening installment, Saur spends numerous pages worldbuilding. Much of the focus is on the Leigheasan, who are akin to witches. Maya’s friends Willum MacLeoid, a Galenvarg, and Jeremias Barraclough, a Veirlintu, provide insight into their respective sects. There are hints of the series’ larger narrative, namely that, unknown to many in Sori, additional realms and myriad other sects exist. Gaelic terms, Celtic mythology, and other, more esoteric ideas are folded into the mix. Fortunately, there’s a glossary, and the author supplies context when needed. Maya, meanwhile, is a superb protagonist. She often seems ambivalent: She’s protective of many people but also disturbingly unfazed when she kills. This duality is a consistent theme for the character, who must continually choose to deploy her powers for either good or bad. Descriptions are simple but effective; a few characters appear as mere “ghostly figure[s],” which, particularly in the case of Dullahan, can be unnerving. Saur engages readers with the anticipation of looming war as well as Maya’s burgeoning abilities, which she progressively discovers. As there’s considerably more to learn about Sori, its people, and the powerful teenager, fans of this novel will surely crave a sequel.
An impressive first installment with a remarkable, series-worthy hero. (author’s note, glossary, author bio)Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 278
Publisher: Koehler Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thrilling, beautifully written page-turner.
A young woman pursues a dangerous quest in late-1800s Egypt in this sequel to What the River Knows (2023).
After Inez Olivera was nearly murdered while assisting with her uncle’s archaeological expedition in Egypt, Tío Ricardo is eager to ship her home to safety in Argentina. But Inez burns with the need to stay and make sure that those who committed crimes against her family are held responsible. Unfortunately, the law precludes Inez, as a young unmarried woman, from accessing her inheritance (needed to fund her quest for justice) without her guardian uncle’s permission. Whitford Hayes, a former British soldier and her tío’s aide-de-camp, proposes marriage, which could solve her problems. But can Inez trust the secretive Whit? More danger and intrigue lurk at every turn in this exciting duology closer, which fully addresses the first entry’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger. The well-paced plot encompasses many fresh, new adventures and betrayals in this reimagined historical setting in which ancient magic abounds and not everyone or everything is what it seems. Even more captivating, however, is the complicated, nuanced love story between Whit and Inez. Their chemistry sizzles, but their relationship is achingly layered with both profound loyalty and deep deception. As their journey unearths new enemies and priceless archaeological finds, the duo must try to trust each other enough to survive.
A thrilling, beautifully written page-turner. (cast of characters, map, timeline) (Historical fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781250822994
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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