Despite featuring familiar creatures, this series opener delivers solidly entertaining mythmaking.
A teenage princess in a mystical land secretly trains in mortal combat and survival strategies when elves unveil her destiny in liberating her people from dark magic.
Rothman’s heroic fantasy novel is the first chapter in his Prophecy saga, about the Rivertons, a contemporary American family. They accidentally pass through “the veil between worlds,” conveniently close to their house, and find themselves stuck in the magical land of Trimoria. There, all of them (even the family cat) assume legendary roles in a vast struggle of good against evil. But in this kickoff, the spotlight is off the Riverton household and on the natives of Trimoria. Hero Arabelle is the pampered and protected teenage daughter of Honfrion, a nomadic sheikh, and his caravan. In the aftermath of a “demon war” that left much of the planet partitioned off by deadly mist barriers, Honfrion’s people wander Trimoria in thrall to Azazel, a centuries-old dark wizard (who in turn serves an evil elf queen). Headstrong Arabelle, inheriting her mother’s prophetic powers, yearns for more out of life—and she gets it when an attack by a corrupted creature doses her with a venom she must counteract with exercise and other activities. The virtuous, secretive elves (and a godlike being called Seder) inform Arabelle that even with the poison threatening her life, she is crucial to fulfilling a prophecy that will free Trimoria from its diabolical tormentors. But the way is hard and dangerous, and it involves strangers (readers can guess who) coming from somewhere outside. Meanwhile, Azazel, ever on guard for any threat, including unauthorized magic, has his vicious, part-ogre minion Kirag and elite Talon patrols watching for any irregularities. The author adroitly handles genre mainstays like dwarfs, dragons, elves, and warlocks in a manner that will find approval among sword-and-sorcery fans, especially ones in the YA crowd seeking women-fronted material presented in a fairly noncondescending manner. During her adventures, Arabelle has to be rescued from time to time, but she also proves her mettle more than once in this captivating story. Those who enjoy this curtain opener will likely continue for the ride in the next volumes.
Despite featuring familiar creatures, this series opener delivers solidly entertaining mythmaking. (author bio)Pub Date: June 29, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Primordial Press
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A thrilling, beautifully written page-turner.
A young woman pursues a dangerous quest in late-1800s Egypt in this sequel to What the River Knows (2023).
After Inez Olivera was nearly murdered while assisting with her uncle’s archaeological expedition in Egypt, Tío Ricardo is eager to ship her home to safety in Argentina. But Inez burns with the need to stay and make sure that those who committed crimes against her family are held responsible. Unfortunately, the law precludes Inez, as a young unmarried woman, from accessing her inheritance (needed to fund her quest for justice) without her guardian uncle’s permission. Whitford Hayes, a former British soldier and her tío’s aide-de-camp, proposes marriage, which could solve her problems. But can Inez trust the secretive Whit? More danger and intrigue lurk at every turn in this exciting duology closer, which fully addresses the first entry’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger. The well-paced plot encompasses many fresh, new adventures and betrayals in this reimagined historical setting in which ancient magic abounds and not everyone or everything is what it seems. Even more captivating, however, is the complicated, nuanced love story between Whit and Inez. Their chemistry sizzles, but their relationship is achingly layered with both profound loyalty and deep deception. As their journey unearths new enemies and priceless archaeological finds, the duo must try to trust each other enough to survive.
A thrilling, beautifully written page-turner. (cast of characters, map, timeline) (Historical fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781250822994
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 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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