A thrilling second act filled with faith, determination, and the pursuit of justice.
Two months after the defeat of the king in series opener Sisters of Glass (2017), the former princess and now queen Halan Ali and her tawam, or mirror-self, Queen’s Sword Nalah Bardak, struggle with their newfound political and magical powers.
As princess of the Magi Kingdom, Halan lived in ignorance of Tam’s reign of terror—and also the state of the kingdom. Now she faces corrupt Thauma lords and an increasing scarcity of resources. Each day brings new problems, and the pressure to undo all of Tam’s misdeeds weighs heavily. Nalah is similarly eager to help the public, but her powers are far from refined. After Halan discovers a mysterious crystal orb, Nalah and dashing former revolutionary Soren Ferro set out for the mysterious Talon Mountains, where the secrets of her Thauma powers might be unlocked. At home, Halan wrestles the mounting piles of worries. Suddenly, Nalah’s old friend Marcus Cutter bursts through the Transcendent Mirror connecting New Hadar and the Magi Kingdom to ask for Nalah’s help to find his missing brother. Queen Halan volunteers to go instead. This second outing to Cyprus’ Middle Eastern–inflected fantasy world takes readers through new challenges, emotional as well as physical. Emphasizing the power of community and trust, fighting through fear, and believing in oneself, it delivers both adventure and satisfying complexity.
A thrilling second act filled with faith, determination, and the pursuit of justice. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-245850-6
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
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
BOOK REVIEW
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