A creative, if sometimes-confusing, coming-of-age fantasy tale.
A neglected girl encounters unexplainable events in Herkert’s YA novel.
Thirteen-year-old Perry Shiner has a distant, neglectful single mother and a lonely life at school, so she’s become used to forging her own solitary path through adolescence. But although chaos is familiar to Perry, her town of Hex Point, New Jersey, is about to deal with supernatural events to which its residents aren’t accustomed. Perry, in a dream, encounters an otherworldly blue being that speaks to her: “It appeared to be swaying slightly, side to side, like it was adrift on the sea.” Unsure of what to think about it, she keeps her visions to herself—until a rekindled friendship results in a violent attack, and reveals a connection between “the other side” and her own reality. The young protagonist’s uncle, Martin Shiner—who also meets the blue being, who presents him with a warning involving Perry—and his family, alongside private investigator Alex Peters, who catches a whiff of the case, work hard to protect Perry from paranormal happenings. The tale is told through the alternating third-person perspectives of Perry, Martin, Alex, and others, so it may take a while for readers to piece together the various characters and events. At the start, readers are immediately dropped into an atypical scenario without any worldbuilding to explain why the town is specifically affected by the supernatural—and why a young, troubled teen is the one tasked with saving it. Characters are also surprisingly quick to believe the paranormal aspects of their situation; there’s little to no disbelief, reflection, or searching for answers, which results in behavior that feels inauthentic. That said, the author does a great job of painting an intricate picture of each scene—specifically Perry’s dreams and Martin’s supernatural encounters. However, such descriptions occasionally disrupt the story’s flow, burying important details and making it difficult to discern what’s significant and what’s not. Although questions are left unanswered, the conclusion satisfyingly addresses the novel’s themes of redemption, family, and second chances.
A creative, if sometimes-confusing, coming-of-age fantasy tale.Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2023
ISBN: 9798987827406
Page Count: 296
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 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
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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