An ambitious debut with imperfect execution—here’s hoping the sequel is smoother.
Chinese folklore and fantasy intersect in this adventure.
Faryn and her younger brother, Alex, were lovingly raised by Ye Ye, who’s now seriously ill. Viewed as outcasts by their Jade Society community, the family lives outside of San Francisco’s Chinatown but still are dedicated to worshipping the gods and train to fight demons. During a risky trip into Chinatown to get Ye Ye’s medicine, Faryn subdues a nián monster with the help of a stranger. The stranger later appears at their society’s annual banquet, revealing himself to be Erlang Shen, the god of war. He shares the Jade Emperor’s decree that whoever can complete a quest and arrive at the banquet atop the heavenly mountain on Peng Lai Island will be deemed the Heaven Breaker, the ultimate warrior, inspiring several hopefuls to race for the title. Spurred by Erlang Shen’s hints and sudden attacks by demons, Faryn reluctantly wields Heaven Breaker’s weapon, Fenghuang, and takes off, accompanied by Alex. The two hope they can also find their missing father, lost during his quest to find Peng Lai. Attempts to call in favors earned by their father prove largely futile, however. Zhao seamlessly incorporates Chinese terms and themes into the fast-paced plot. Unfortunately, the book’s humor relies heavily on Asian stereotypes. Still, the story takes intriguing twists with its cultural background, and they keep the pages turning. Faryn and Alex are multiracial: Chinese on Ba’s side and a mix of Mediterranean heritage on their mother’s.
An ambitious debut with imperfect execution—here’s hoping the sequel is smoother. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0200-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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