An often delightful tale that readers may find reminiscent of their favorite bedtime stories.
In Black’s paranormal YA series installment, a group of hikers find themselves stranded in the Adirondacks, and they soon discover that there’s more to the forest than meets the eye.
Marco,an experienced wilderness hiker and guide, has been tasked with searching the Adirondack Mountains in New York state for artifacts and relics from past civilizations to help secure preservation status for the landmark area. He’s joined by Maria and Chase, a married couple whom, unbeknownst to Marco, are guardians of the fae in the privately owned Goldfield Forest.It’s Maria’s ancestral land, and the source of her power as a witch; however, Chase doesn’t share her magical abilities. Marco also invites Anita, a close friend of the group; he’s unaware that she’s also a witch. Together, they encounter magical woodland creatures who are just as concerned about preserving their home, which they call Heritage Mountain. Meanwhile, brothers Russell and Tim have spent the past two years scouring the forest for gold, using dynamite and other destructive methods to uncover abandoned mines. When one of their expeditions goes too far, Marco and his companions must join forces with enchanted beings—including elf royals Galen and Marciana; King Danzig of the mythical clan called the stargazers; and Patronus, protector of the spirits of Bigfoot-like creatures called goliaths, among others—to save the forest and themselves. Black’s latest tale offers a delightful romp through a magical forest, and it’s a narrative that’s brimming with charm, adventure, and romance. It also foregrounds a genuine concern for environmental conservation that’s sure to resonate with many readers. The developing relationship between Marco and Anita is especially sweet, although efforts to add emotional complexity to these and other characters often lack nuance. At times, the dialogue feels stilted (“As I was about to leave the cave, I glimpsed a rock reflecting from my flashlight”), although this doesn’t detract from the story, whose fairy tale–like quality ultimately adds to the novel’s charm.
An often delightful tale that readers may find reminiscent of their favorite bedtime stories.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter.
After a Nigerian British girl goes off to an exclusive boarding school that seems to prey on less-privileged students, she discovers there might be some truth behind an urban legend.
Ife Adebola joins the Urban Achievers scholarship program at pricey, high-pressure Nithercott School, arriving shortly after a student called Leon mysteriously disappeared. Gossip says he’s a victim of the glowing-eyed Changing Man who targets the lonely, leaving them changed. Ife doesn’t believe in the myth, but amid the stresses of Nithercott’s competitive, privileged, majority-white environment, where she is constantly reminded of her state school background, she does miss her friends and family. When Malika, a fellow Black scholarship student, disappears and then returns, acting strangely devoid of personality, Ife worries the Changing Man is real—and that she’s next. Ife joins forces with classmate Bijal and Benny, Leon’s younger brother, to uncover the truth about who the Changing Man is and what he wants. Culminating in a detailed, gory, and extended climactic battle, this verbose thriller tempts readers with a nefarious mystery involving racial and class-based violence but never quite lives up to its potential and peters out thematically by its explosive finale. However, this debut offers highly visually evocative and eerie descriptions of characters and events and will appeal to fans of creature horror, social commentary, and dark academia.
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter. (Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781250868138
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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