Reads like preteen-authored Twilight fanfic; only worth it for its intended purpose. (Horror. 11-17)
Cursed with a ravenous nighttime appetite, will John hurt the ones he loves?
Sixteen-year-old John had a fight with his girlfriend, Andrea, at a school dance. After she stormed off, he started talking to Beth, the dark, disheveled, athletic new girl. One thing led to another, and they were kissing; then Beth bit him hard on the neck. After that, the dreams started. Dark, disturbing dreams accompanied by “night hunger.” John eats everything he can get his hands on at night. When the French teacher turns up horribly murdered in the woods, Beth is the only student not distressed. She starts stalking John, showing up at his house at odd hours. On the night of a party on the full moon, John and Beth both become monsters. Will he be able to protect Andrea and save the town from whatever Beth is…and whatever he has become? Prolific British children’s and YA author Gibbons’ entry in this high-interest, low-vocabulary series is a first-person tale told in simple, declarative sentences and a conversational style. A slick cover, short chapters and cliffhanger chapter endings make for a good Hi-Lo title, but not necessarily good fiction.
Reads like preteen-authored Twilight fanfic; only worth it for its intended purpose. (Horror. 11-17)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-78112-179-5
Page Count: 50
Publisher: Stoke Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway.
Stephanie and her family move into an old mansion rumored to have been put under a curse after a turn-of-the-20th-century rich boy meddled with an Egyptian mummy.
After her young sister complains about strange events, high school student Stephanie befriends Lucas, a geeky, good-looking boy, and meets the other members of SPOoKy, the Scientific Paranormal Organization of Kentucky: Charlotte, Wes, and Patrick. Stephanie learns the history of her new home from Lucas, who attracts her romantic attention, but the usually levelheaded girl is soon drawn to Erik, the handsome phantom who first comes to her in dreams. The story is told in chapters narrated by Stephanie, Lucas, and Zedok, whose identity is initially a source of confusion to Stephanie. Zedok appears wearing different masks, “personified slivers” of his soul, representing states of mind such as Wrath, Madness, and Valor. Meanwhile, until gifted singer Stephanie came along and he could write songs for her, Erik’s dreams were thwarted; he wanted to be a composer but his family expected him to become a doctor. In the gothic horror tradition, Erik’s full background and connection with Zedok are slowly revealed. Romantic dream sequences are lush and swoon-y, but the long, drawn-out battle to end the curse, aided by a celebrity clairvoyant, is tedious, and the constant introduction of Erik’s different personae is confusing. Most characters default to White; Patrick is Black.
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway. (Horror. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11604-3
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
Only the most determined fantasy aficionados will see this through to the end.
A young witch searches for her true identity while battling sinister magical forces.
Liora Duval is a young mage whose distinctive glowing skin makes her a target for evil forces. She lives with her father and sisters on the outskirts of Sylvan, an old village in the magical land of Antalla; her mother was killed by a falling star. Liora knows that her magic is a liability and tries to hide it most of the time. However, she is ignorant of her true powers. After the powerful warlock Lord Darius invites Liora’s little sister, Mina, to his palace, where he uses her and other mages for his own nefarious ends, Liora becomes an apprentice to the witch Margana. She helps her weave magical tapestries that come to life when the final knot is tied. Events take a dark turn when Liora and Evran, Margana’s son and Liora’s childhood love, become trapped in a dark tapestry landscape full of scary creatures. The two must struggle to escape. The tone of the narrative is overwhelmingly threatening, at times hinting at violence. Overall, a lack of plot development and the sometimes-meandering pace of the narrative may cause readers to lose interest along the way. All characters present White.
Only the most determined fantasy aficionados will see this through to the end. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-335-40565-4
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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