A mixed start for a feisty fantasy romance series.
A magical error binds human and Fae and thaws a kingdom’s frozen secrets.
As a member of a druid order sworn to protect the Winter Fae, 18-year-old Keltania has spent most of her life training to serve as a guard in the Winter Lands, the sole place in the kingdom where magic still thrives. The initial honor she feels about protecting Valen, the court’s reluctant heir, quickly vanishes upon meeting the arrogant, wolfish, 19-year-old Fae. She performs her duty to safeguard Valen’s life and clandestine magic while warding off his repeated advances. When the use of a protective sigil has unexpected consequences, Keltania and Valen are plunged into events stemming from truths about Valen’s origins, the histories of their people, and their growing mutual attraction. Chapters alternate between the leads’ first-person perspectives, allowing for rich internal monologues that soften Valen’s persistently sexual dialogue and negging, which readers may find abrasive when combined with the unequal power dynamics. Shifting the setting beyond the Winter Lands invigorates the pacing and plot development. An entertaining side quest involving trolls enriches the narrative and serves to introduce several well-developed supporting characters like a trickster kelpie. The briskly paced ending brings initial resolution and forecasts conflict for additional installments. Keltania and Valen are described as pale-skinned; Keltania has red hair and hazel eyes, and Valen has black hair and violet eyes.
A mixed start for a feisty fantasy romance series. (Fantasy romance. 16-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374028
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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