A vividly realized, page-turning revenge story.
A young woman framed for murder seeks vengeance with the help of a new friend and some dangerous magic.
For almost a year, Dania has been in prison, framed for a murder she didn’t commit. With plenty of time to think, she’s become consumed with rage, plotting her escape and her revenge on those who put her there. At the top of her list is Mazin, her childhood best friend and first love, who betrayed her out of his loyalty to Emperor Vahid. Dania manages to flee with cellmate Noor, who’s also seeking retribution against the emperor. Since Noor has access to zoraat seeds, the powerful djinn magic that Vahid used to overthrow Dania’s kingdom, the girls devise a plan to use it to obtain justice. After consuming zoraat powder to change her appearance, Dania executes an elaborate scheme to hurt her betrayers as they hurt her, slowly chipping away at their power. But the djinn magic threatens to overtake her, and she can’t forget her feelings for Mazin. Dania must be careful not to succumb to her own trap. Varga’s debut, a Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, is a compelling story with a strong, sword-wielding female lead, intense fight scenes, unpredictable magic, and fiery romance. Chapters labeled “Before” offer insight into Dania’s relationships with Mazin and other characters. Pakistani cultural elements are woven into the worldbuilding.
A vividly realized, page-turning revenge story. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9781250877383
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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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