A satisfying finale to a tale of magic, self-discovery, and family.
Reunited siblings Vira, Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb finally possess the legendary Ivory Key, only to discover that it unlocks a centuries-old secret that could lead to everyone’s demise in this follow-up to the 2022 series opener.
The Ivory Key was supposed to be the solution to Ashoka’s dwindling source of magic, but Vira and her sister and brothers must work together by splitting up to decode the artifact’s cipher and understand its true potential. As they pursue their mission, each rajkumaari’s and rajkumaara’s individual journey continues to be fraught with betrayal and danger. Maharani Vira is unexpectedly dethroned by the Council; Riya now possesses within her an unpredictable and unwanted magic; Ronak’s unfulfilled need to escape his betrothal and exonerate Kaleb leads him to make precarious choices; and Kaleb ventures to a neighboring country to investigate the emperor and learn more about his biological mother’s side of the family. But as they dig deeper into Ashoka’s hidden magical history, they’re challenged by the mysterious Kamala Society, which originally sealed the magic quarries, and the Order of the Mayura, a cultlike group who worship a goddess whom they believe will grant her followers great power upon her resurrection. Deception and peril occur at every twist and turn in Raman’s thrilling duology closer, set in an Indian-inspired setting. Even more compelling are the dynamic, nuanced relationships among the protagonists, which fuel their individual growth and self-actualization.
A satisfying finale to a tale of magic, self-discovery, and family. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2023
ISBN: 9780358468349
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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