An intriguingly conceptualized story that struggles to create a compelling cast of characters.
“Godfather Death,” a lesser-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale, gets a gothic update in Craig’s latest stand-alone fantasy.
Hazel Lafitte’s birth doesn’t feel like a gift to her parents, who already struggle to support their 12 other children. But to everyone else, a 13th child is a rare and intriguing thing, and Hazel is promised to the Dreaded End, the god of death, whom she will come to know as Merrick. Merrick plans for Hazel to become a gifted healer and bestows upon her the surname Trépas. For many lonely years, she studies medicine in isolation. She also learns that she’s as cursed as she is gifted. Hazel sees many cures in visions, but sometimes she instead perceives a skull—or deathshead—that commands her to kill her patient. When the king falls ill with a mysterious plaguelike illness, Hazel is summoned to find a cure. As she grows close to the king’s family, she questions her talents, sees deathsheads she can’t accept, and encounters other gods who are pulling strings. There are glimmers of a fascinating world here, though shallow characterization lessens the impact of Hazel’s dilemmas and decisions. The opening scene will appeal to fans of Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves, and while readers expecting similar depth may be disappointed, the haunting atmosphere and worldbuilding details have wide appeal. Most characters read white; Merrick has “deep obsidian skin.”
An intriguingly conceptualized story that struggles to create a compelling cast of characters. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9780593482582
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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
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