A page-turner that’s filled with twists and turns.
Following her sister’s suspicious death, a girl vows to uncover the truth and avenge her.
Indira Harrak is shocked to learn that her older sister, Rowenna, the crown princess, has died under mysterious circumstances while serving as a captive bride in the kingdom of Vanzador. Plagued by Marauders, the kingdom of Tashir was forced into a harsh treaty with Vanzador that included tributes of bagrava, the sacred plant that keeps Tashir fertile and can only be cultivated by master gardeners like Indira. The treaty also required a Tashiri princess as a bride. In return, the Vanzadorian king created a mountain range to keep invaders out of Tashir. To protect her people, Indira must now marry her sister’s widower—and possible murderer—Prince Alaric. When she arrives at Vanzador’s mountain Fortress, nothing matches the terrible descriptions in Ro’s letters. Indira is convinced that the differences are a clue to something her sister wanted her to know. She also uncovers the reason for the Vanzadorians’ endless demand for bagrava. As Indira navigates the Fortress, intriguing characters lead her toward the truth—and attraction sparks between her and Alaric. The deeper she ventures into Vanzador’s mysteries, the more Indira questions how well she knew Ro and what secrets her new home may be hiding. Thorley skillfully blends political intrigue, romance, magic, and mystery into a story filled with betrayals and shocking reveals that build toward a thrilling conclusion. All main characters are light-skinned.
A page-turner that’s filled with twists and turns. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781728283036
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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