Readers will be ensorcelled by the redemptions, revelations, and reconciliations.
Lines between good and evil blur as loyalties are tested in this trilogy conclusion.
Following the cliffhanger ending of The Camelot Betrayal (2020), Guinevere may have successfully sealed Camelot against its enemies in Arthur’s absence, but that wasn’t enough to save her. Held by Picts (who prefer to be called northern people) and familiar faces—Mordred and Morgana—she’s being taken by King Nechtan’s army to see the Dark Queen. Along with her complicated relationship with silver-tongued Mordred, Guinevere quickly forms a rapport with one of her captors, finding Nechtan’s bold, witty daughter Fina impossible not to like. Taking advantage of her proximity to Morgana—who assures Guinevere that they share a true enemy in Merlin—Guinevere asks her to help untangle the truth of Guinevere’s identity. The hard-fought answers she eventually finds cause her even worse existential angst. Tangled up with Guinevere’s identity issues is her web of relationships involving passion, duty, love—especially love, numerous kinds of love—and the broken trusts that weigh on her heart. Guinevere’s internal war of identity and individuality ends up informing the physical action of the climactic battle in a dramatic, high-stakes way. The conclusion of the story closes the curtain on the mythical elements in a gratifying manner and gives closure to the characters, though not without some bittersweet losses.
Readers will be ensorcelled by the redemptions, revelations, and reconciliations. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-525-58175-8
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021
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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