A superlative middle volume, adding depth and scope without sacrificing clarity or theme.
The sequel to The Good Hawk (2020) sends characters both familiar and new into the wider world surrounding its fantasy version of medieval Skye.
Agatha and Jaime have returned triumphantly after rescuing their clan from slavery. But their enclave is still held by enemies, and those in their current refuge want them gone. After Agatha accidentally unleashes the deadly sgàilean, Jaime is sent back to Scotia to seek magical assistance while Agatha defiantly warns a rival clan. Meanwhile, young Sigrid is sold to the cruel Norvegian monarch who is busy scheming with the eldritch Inglish king. All three suspenseful plotlines are deftly interwoven, giving each alternating narrator a distinctive voice: fierce, proud, impatient Agatha, with her disabilities that cause some to treat her cruelly and her uncanny rapport with animals; careful, depressed Jaime, prone to both panic attacks and reluctant flashes of bravery; and earthy, brash Sigrid, gifted with an eidetic memory and unexpected compassion. Major and minor characters alike are fully rounded; Jaime in particular struggles with his newfound fascination for dark magic and a same-sex attraction that is not accepted in his culture. The worldbuilding is rich, integrating various magical systems into the landscapes and cultures of diverse countries and clans. The narrative gallops along, with hefty doses of humor, tenderness, and violence, until the storylines meet on a final page that will leave readers desperate for more.
A superlative middle volume, adding depth and scope without sacrificing clarity or theme. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0748-4
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Walker US/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world.
The Pixie Dust Root is in danger, and one fairy is determined to save it—and the Pixie Dust Tree that all of Pixie Hollow depends upon.
In this stand-alone story set in the same world as Allison Saft’s Wings of Starlight (2025), Periwinkle, a frost-talent who has a gift for finding things—or maybe they have a way of finding her?—discovers a lost thread of magic that grants her the ability to dream. But not all dreams are as sparkly as Periwinkle. One night, she awakens from a nightmare to find herself in the Winter Woods with a fairy she’s never met, a sparrow man named Weaver, who claims to be a rare dream-talent. Disconcertingly, Weaver knows her—he calls her “perfect Periwinkle” and for some reason doesn’t seem to like her very much. Nevertheless, Periwinkle finds herself drawn to Weaver. When he tells her he can save the Pixie Dust Root by spinning her dreams into thread if she helps him find the magic tools he needs, Periwinkle agrees. Their journey leads the pair, who are pale-skinned, to discover things they like about each other, too. This is an opposites-attract adventure with romantic tension, a high-stakes quest, personal discovery, and betrayal. The characters struggle with inner turmoil while also adjusting their understanding of each other. Bright balances the fun with explorations of themes of snap judgments, labels, and weaponizing fear.
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9780736447362
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney/Random House
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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