Intergalactic intrigue, a little romance, and a lot of action make for good vibes in this space saga.
Two 17-year-olds who were bonded at birth through matching implanted microchips escape attempts on their life.
Joy Mirari Abara is based on Hali-Monchuri, a planet devastated by the colonizing, imperialistic Qadin family. This same family instituted the Kindred program that bonded poor commoner Joy, mind and body, to the handsome, black-haired, dark brown–skinned Duke Felix Hamdi in a notably unconventional match. Joy’s dark-brown skin and weight are critiqued by Maxon, the boy her mother chose as her betrothed, but to Felix, she’s everything he’s ever wanted, though he must hide his care for her—both his Kindred and his love. When all the reigning Qadin family members are assassinated, and Joy and Felix are accused of the murders, they leave their galaxy in search of a way to prove their innocence. They find Terra, our Earth, and through friendships with humans and other aliens, they realize they may also find ways to save their planet and relationship. The pacing is uneven at times: Pages of characters’ reflections are followed by bursts of disjointed action, and quite a bit of the exposition is shared in flashbacks dotted throughout the novel, interrupting the flow. However, body-positive messages and brilliant, considerate queer representation demonstrate abundant heart. The character development is comprehensive, even for those on the periphery, and the attention to technological and language details is fun and focused.
Intergalactic intrigue, a little romance, and a lot of action make for good vibes in this space saga. (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-335-41861-6
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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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