A well-crafted fantasy laced with frustrated romance.
In this high fantasy, a powerful young priestess must lock her emotions away while defending her kingdom from savage beasts and magical attacks.
Prince Janu is 14 years old and Princess Pria is 5 when their parents are killed by grinlo—wild predators who hunt in packs at the edges of their kingdom. Pria was born with the magic of a high priestess, one of only two in all the land, and by rights, she should be sent to the far-off Lorien for training alongside priestesses. Instead, she is allowed a reprieve. Pria is 12 years old when she finally leaves, and in her subsequent 10-year absence, the grinlo hordes continue to make inroads, overrunning one stronghold after another. The creatures have learned to coordinate their attacks. They seek out magic and are commanded by a rogue priest. When High Priestess Lana is killed, Pria returns home as a high priestess in her own right. She finds Janu on the throne and their childhood friend Mian serving as his battle leader. But Janu and Mian still see Pria as the little girl they grew up with. Pria, though a potent magic user, is inexperienced. One misstep and the Lorien might well recall her from service. Can Pria reconcile herself to Janu’s overprotectiveness and Mian’s love and, in doing so, save the kingdom? Kennedy writes in the third person, largely from Pria’s point of view. The prose style is a straightforward blend of narrative, badinage-peppered dialogue, and characters’ inner thoughts. The minor players are well developed. As for the protagonists, Pria in particular is given both space and time in which to grow. Events don’t move quickly, but there is a chilling inevitability to the grinlo encroachments. The author’s worldbuilding is astute, conjuring a sense of realism to underpin the story’s magical conflicts, nobility, and heroism. The plot is engaging throughout. But given the book’s length (over 500 pages) and the interactions between Pria and Mian, readers might have hoped for more from its ending, which merely cedes meekly to the promise of a sequel. Nonetheless, fans of the genre should approve.
A well-crafted fantasy laced with frustrated romance.Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1734089615
Page Count: 570
Publisher: Bowker
Review Posted Online: Dec. 25, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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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