An overly rushed storyline undermines an intriguing premise and sympathetic characters.
A young woman’s future in the interplanetary fleet suddenly changes.
It’s 2381 in Richmond, Virginia, and 21-year-old Basilisa Miranda is a focused examinee from a Latinx family that has for centuries served in the interplanetary fleet, bringing peace, equality, and democracy to the galaxy. Despite her pale, redheaded best friend Charlotte’s constant requests to relax, Basil carefully controls every aspect of her life in order to prepare for the Fleet Exam: physical training, studying, self-actualizing meditation, and protein shakes instead of home-cooked meals with her family. Then suddenly, all her anxieties and uncertainties surface as she wonders what truly makes her happy and whether she still wants to do her service in the fleet, let alone enlist for life. After breaking down and fleeing during the exam, Basil’s life changes completely as she engages with and expands her world, meeting a friendly, green-skinned, pointy-eared Xanthippian named Velda and charismatic, brown-skinned Ethne, two anti-fleet protestors. The story’s social commentary on negative aspects of cultural assimilation is intriguing, however, the delivery lacks nuance and fails to develop the subjects with sufficient depth. While Basil’s personality and relationships are well depicted, one-dimensional secondary characters, choppy time skips, and the rapid pace weaken the work overall. The illustrations are beautiful, however, with strong transitions, luminous colors, and a natural flow.
An overly rushed storyline undermines an intriguing premise and sympathetic characters. (author's note, additional art) (Graphic science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5067-2456-0
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Dark Horse
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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