A delightful story of faraway lands with an admirable protagonist at the helm.
An apprentice physician becomes a de facto spy to protect her sovereign nation in Page’s fantasy debut.
In a fantastical realm, 18-year-old Isabel Moller, apprentice to Karlsborn Castle’s royal physician, tends to the ailing monarchs. The queen’s ailments are physical, while the king suffers a “madness” that the physicians haven’t yet found a cure for. When Isabel’s close friend’s murdered body washes ashore on the Sanok Isles where she lives, the young apprentice is determined to unmask the killer. That means stepping out of her element and agreeing to act as a “guide” for soldiers from the neighboring country of Volgaard; they’re in the Sanokes on a scouting trip that they don’t fully explain. (Isabel’s true agenda is hunting down Volgaard’s reputed “terrible and deadly” weapon, whatever it is.) She cozies up to the soldiers, who include the general’s handsome son Erik, to get any particulars on this weapon. If she passes along the valuable information that Volgaard plans to attack, Isabel can ensure that the Sanokes don’t lose their independence—or something even more precious. Page’s leisurely tale comes with a generous serving of subtle humor, often in the form of contemporary-feeling dialogue and narrative details; characters offer middle-finger responses and indulge in sitcom sarcasm (“If you don’t like it, you can always, I don’t know, leave?”). The sympathetic Isabel gives the novel an emotional resonance as she displays courage while struggling with her self-worth, an insecurity that stems from her father abandoning the family years ago. While much of the story involves Isabel ingratiating herself with the soldiers, it also includes numerous instances of understated romance as well as signs of magic—one such instance gives Isabel (and readers) the opportunity to see the forested Volgaard despite the action unfolding in the treeless Sanokes. The author rounds out this epic tale with a menacing villain who gradually comes to light alongside some shocking deaths and unexpected bonds.
A delightful story of faraway lands with an admirable protagonist at the helm.Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 4.99
Page Count: -
Publisher: Shadow Forge Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.
A young Navarrian woman faces even greater challenges in her second year at dragon-riding school.
Violet Sorrengail did all the normal things one would do as a first-year student at Basgiath War College: made new friends, fell in love, and survived multiple assassination attempts. She was also the first rider to ever bond with two dragons: Tairn, a powerful black dragon with a distinguished battle history, and Andarna, a baby dragon too young to carry a rider. At the end of Fourth Wing (2023), Violet and her lover, Xaden Riorson, discovered that Navarre is under attack from wyvern, evil two-legged dragons, and venin, soulless monsters that harvest energy from the ground. Navarrians had always been told that these were monsters of legend and myth, not real creatures dangerously close to breaking through Navarre’s wards and attacking civilian populations. In this overly long sequel, Violet, Xaden, and their dragons are determined to find a way to protect Navarre, despite the fact that the army and government hid the truth about these creatures. Due to the machinations of several traitorous instructors at Basgiath, Xaden and Violet are separated for most of the book—he’s stationed at a distant outpost, leaving her to handle the treacherous, cutthroat world of the war college on her own. Violet is repeatedly threatened by her new vice commandant, a brutal man who wants to silence her. Although Violet and her dragons continue to model extreme bravery, the novel feels repetitive and more than a little sloppy, leaving obvious questions about the world unanswered. The book is full of action and just as full of plot holes, including scenes that are illogical or disconnected from the main narrative. Secondary characters are ignored until a scene requires them to assist Violet or to be killed in the endless violence that plagues their school.
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374172
Page Count: 640
Publisher: Red Tower
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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