A queen can defeat the conde who stole her throne, but it means nothing if her land is destroyed by fire-throwing invaders.
Queen Lucero-Elisa né Riqueza de Vega—Elisa to her friends—has lost her throne, her bodyguard/nurse and her beloved (The Crown of Embers, 2012). All she has left is the Godstone in her navel, and it’s brimming with more power than ever before. Slowed by the need to protect a helpless child, trained in magic by a failed sorcerer, threatened even by the weather—she’s traveled so far ice falls from the sky!—Elisa knows her first priority is to protect her country from the invading Invierno animagi. The Inviernos, tall, fair-skinned and not-quite human, believe that generations ago, Elisa’s people came to this land and destroyed their magical birthright; now they want revenge. Despite the Godstone marking her as a once-in-a-century prophesied heroine, Elisa must save the day with her “only lasting power,” her smarts. This well-read girl spent her childhood studying warfare and international diplomacy and has the skills to lead both a war party and a country. Her foretold destiny is resolved with a marvelous and refreshing twist on literary tropes.
A smashing ending to a trilogy that began with problematic body hatred but developed into the stellar journey of a girl who would be queen . (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-202654-5
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
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Brie risks the deadly land of the Fae to save her sister.
Brie doesn’t trust many people other than Jas, her eternally hopeful sister, and Sebastian, mage apprentice and Brie’s secret love (as if she had time for romance). Brie struggles to meet the payments for the magical contracts binding their lives to Madame Vivias, supplementing her cleaning work by stealing from the rich. While the land of Faerie tempts other girls with word of a castle, a lavish ball, and a fae prince seeking a wife, Brie mistrusts the creatures who capitalize on humanity’s greed. When Jas’ contract is sold to the fae, Brie braves the golden Seelie queen’s court, meets the noble Prince Ronan, and travels on to the Unseelie king’s shadow court. In the process she discovers love, historical secrets, atrocities, and her own hidden strength. While many elements regarding the fae and a love triangle will feel familiar to fans of the genre, and the magic could have been more fleshed out, discussions of power, inequity, trust, and hope expand the worldbuilding in refreshing ways. Similarly, consideration of the balance between truth and secrets, lies and stories, is intriguing as it’s applied to characters, relationships, and historical lore. Despite certain predictable reveals, the plot itself, which starts off slowly, picks up and is pleasantly convoluted with multiple satisfying surprises. Major human characters read as White.
An entertaining fantasy set in a world that readers will want to revisit. (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: July 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-38657-5
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
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Someone is murdering high school students. Most freeze in fear, but a brave few try to stop the killings.
Senior Makani Young has been living in corn-obsessed Nebraska for just a little over a year. She has developed a crush and made some friends, but a dark secret keeps her from truly opening up to those around her. As the only half–African-American and half–Native Hawaiian student in her school, she already stands out, but as the killing spree continues, the press descends, and rumors fly, Makani is increasingly nervous that her past will be exposed. However, the charming and incredibly shy Ollie, a white boy with hot-pink hair, a lip ring, and wanderlust, provides an excellent distraction from the horror and fear. Graphic violence and bloody mayhem saturate this high-speed slasher story. And while Makani’s secret and the killer’s hidden identity might keep the pages turning, this is less a psychological thriller and more a study in gore. The intimacy and precision of the killer’s machinations hint at some grand psychological reveal, but lacking even basic jump-scares, this tale is high in yuck and low in fright. The tendency of the characters toward preachy inner monologues feels false.
Bloody? Yes. Scary? No. (Horror. 14-16)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-525-42601-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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