A deeper exploration of a compelling fantasy world.
Mira learns more about her existence within a complicated web of political intrigue in this sequel to 2024’s Compass and Blade.
Mira Boscawen is reeling from a painful betrayal and learning about her siren lineage when the rulers known as the watch set her village on the island of Rosevear on fire and demand that she be delivered to them. The enigmatic and infuriating Lord Elijah Tresillian arrives, ready to collect on the bargain that he and Mira previously made. After helping the village, the pair travel to Ennor, where they plan to deal with Capt. Renshaw and the watch, who have formed an alliance to take control of the Fortunate Isles. Mira and Elijah continue to grapple with their identities and the powers they don’t understand, all the while growing closer to one another. Meanwhile, Brielle, a monster hunter who tracks creatures and extracts their blood for spells, is assigned by her coven to hunt Mira. As Brielle learns more about Mira, she starts to question what’s being asked of her, especially when her own and Mira’s fates ultimately collide. Mira, at great cost, gains insight into herself while she tries to save Rosevear. Brielle’s perspective adds a much-needed view into a messy political system, and Mira’s and Elijah’s motives are explored more fully in this gratifying sequel, which satisfyingly addresses underdeveloped areas of the plot and characterization. Main characters are cued white.
A deeper exploration of a compelling fantasy world. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781335015310
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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