Fun for dark genre fans.
Estranged friends reunite to finish a game that claimed one of their number.
When missing Ian comes back—appearing in ghastly encounters with each of his fellow Foxtail Five, asking why they left him and warning them that they must finish the game before dawn—the once-close friends are pulled back together. The characters—including overachieving, perfectionistic Madeline, who is Black and biracial; asexual white high school dropout and gamer Emerson; Owen, a bisexual star theater kid who is Japanese and white; and mysterious tan-skinned misfit Dax, whose ethnicity, like his father, is unknown to him—return to where it all began. There, they find the mysterious Japanese card game that took Ian. The ghost story gives way to a dark portal fantasy as they’re taken to the corrupted world of Meido and sent on a fetch quest, based on the game’s seven cards, to retrieve seven pieces of an empress’s body that were turned to stone. Through their trials, they come up against twists on Japanese mythology and lavishly described grotesque horrors through depictions of a gamified underworld. Though the dawn time limit adds tension, the number of retrievals creates a predictable pattern for the plot. Luckily, the tasks make emotional demands on the characters, which helps distinguish them; in early chapters, their voices feel similar. Late revelations about the nature of the game and its players lead to a twisted climax, and the denouement promises a sequel.
Fun for dark genre fans. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781250851123
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Tor Teen
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
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
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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