Returning fans will be pleased with this neatly wrapped up duology closer.
A witch and a warrior must form a sacred bond to protect all magic in this sequel to 2023’s Night of the Witch.
Fritzi and Otto have settled in at the Well, and the local villagers, aware of the existence of magic following their battle with Dieter, largely accept the Black Forest witches. With Dieter assumed to be dead “or as good as,” the couple turn their attention to other matters—becoming a bonded pair, chosen by the goddess Holda to be a champion (Fritzi) and a warrior (Otto). They also hope to convince the coven that wild magic isn’t inherently bad. But the bonding ceremony goes awry, and they discover that Dieter is not only still alive, but he’s also secretly bonded with Fritzi, using her as a conduit to uncover the council’s secrets, thus putting all magic in danger. Fritzi, Otto, and their friends embark on a quest to find magical artifacts in order to stop Dieter. This book continues the exploration of paganism and Christianity in 16th-century Germany with a focus on free will versus fate in both religious traditions; knowledge of the earlier entry is a must. The slow pacing of the book’s first half picks up as the action intensifies. The authors switch between the leads’ first-person perspectives, but it’s easy to lose track of who is speaking. The cast members’ camaraderie, humorous dialogue, and sense of found family elevate the story, however.
Returning fans will be pleased with this neatly wrapped up duology closer. (content warnings) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781728277554
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 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
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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