by K.D. McEntire ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013
Easily the best book in the trilogy.
Left powerless and near death in Reaper (2012), Wendy must unravel the mysteries of her Reaper family before the Lady Walker’s evil plans reach fruition.
While physically comatose, Wendy joins her ghost friends in a desperate attempt to thwart her family’s schemes and stay alive. These plots now come from two angles, as her cousin Jane isn’t working with Reaper leader Elise anymore. Also, there’s the Lady Walker, who, in between reaching out to invite Wendy to join her side, opens pathways to the Never for the terrifying creatures that live in the space between worlds. These grotesque creatures are a welcome addition to the story, as horrifying as they are fun. To defeat Elise’s manipulation and the Lady Walker’s destructive plans, Wendy must uncover her mother’s history with Elise as well as Piotr’s past and history with Reapers (and surprising Reaper mythology). The expository flashbacks and dream sequences occasionally disrupt the story rhythm, but the action scenes are exciting and mostly believable. Some of the awkward dialogue that plagued the trilogy’s previous installments is minimized by the faster pace and near-constant action. Wendy’s siblings, drawn into the fray, join the cast of side characters endangered to raise stakes. The conclusion drops a few plot points entirely, but it ends on an emotionally complex, satisfying note.
Easily the best book in the trilogy. (Fantasy. 12-17)Pub Date: May 14, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-61614-771-6
Page Count: 302
Publisher: Pyr/Prometheus Books
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013
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by Rae Carson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2011
Despite the stale fat-to-curvy pattern, compelling world building with a Southern European, pseudo-Christian feel,...
Adventure drags our heroine all over the map of fantasyland while giving her the opportunity to use her smarts.
Elisa—Princess Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza of Orovalle—has been chosen for Service since the day she was born, when a beam of holy light put a Godstone in her navel. She's a devout reader of holy books and is well-versed in the military strategy text Belleza Guerra, but she has been kept in ignorance of world affairs. With no warning, this fat, self-loathing princess is married off to a distant king and is embroiled in political and spiritual intrigue. War is coming, and perhaps only Elisa's Godstone—and knowledge from the Belleza Guerra—can save them. Elisa uses her untried strategic knowledge to always-good effect. With a character so smart that she doesn't have much to learn, body size is stereotypically substituted for character development. Elisa’s "mountainous" body shrivels away when she spends a month on forced march eating rat, and thus she is a better person. Still, it's wonderfully refreshing to see a heroine using her brain to win a war rather than strapping on a sword and charging into battle.
Despite the stale fat-to-curvy pattern, compelling world building with a Southern European, pseudo-Christian feel, reminiscent of Naomi Kritzer's Fires of the Faithful (2002), keeps this entry fresh. (Fantasy. 12-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-202648-4
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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by Natasha Preston ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 2, 2021
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.
Two teens with a dark secret return to their old summer camp.
Childhood friends Esme and Kayla can’t wait to return to Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training, ready to try everything they couldn’t do when they were younger: find cute boys, stay up late, and sneak out after hours. Even Andy, their straight-laced supervisor, can’t dampen their excitement, especially after they meet the crushworthy Olly and Jake. An intuitive 17-year-old, Esme is ready to jump in and teach her cute little campers. But when a threatening message appears, Esme and Kayla realize the secret they’ve kept hidden for nearly a decade is no longer safe. Paranoia and fear soon cause Esme and Kayla to revisit their ominous secret and realize that nobody in the camp can be trusted. The slow buildup of suspense and the use of classic horror elements contrast with lighthearted camp activities, bonding with new friends, and budding romance. Similarly, Esme’s first-person point of view allows for increased tension and action as well as offering insight into her emotional and mental well-being. Discussions of adulthood, trauma, and recovery are subtle and realistic, but acts of sexism and machismo aren’t fully analyzed. While the strong buildup of action comes late, it leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. Major characters are White.
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge. (Thriller. 12-16)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12497-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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