Even a great idea can be sunk by poor characterization and plotting; this has a standard idea, which makes the poor...
Chloe’s family is reeling from her mother’s sudden death. At the same time, Chloe realizes that her childhood ability to see ghosts has returned.
To deal with their grief, Chloe and her little brother, Rory, are sent to their grandmother’s English estate. It’s more than a culture shock for Chloe: It exposes her to a great number of ghosts—like the handsome, charming Alexander Reade, dead for over 150 years. Their immediate connection provokes vengeance from Isobel, Alex’s love and fellow ghost. Isobel sees Chloe as a threat, not just because of Alex’s interest, but because of the living girl’s supernatural ability. Chloe doesn’t want any of this, but when Isobel strikes out at Rory and Chloe’s new friend, Joe, not to mention dozens of innocent bystanders, Chloe will have to take a stand—even if it means losing Alex. Chloe’s voice is rarely convincing, and other characters are one-dimensional and inconsistent. Plot inconsistencies and pedestrian prose are likely to deter all but the most persistent paranormal-romance fans.
Even a great idea can be sunk by poor characterization and plotting; this has a standard idea, which makes the poor execution all the more obvious. (Paranormal romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-373-21130-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
For fans of all things Disney.
“Sleeping Beauty” is the source for this second prince-focused novel based on Disney’s animated classics.
Betrothed to Princess Aurora since her birth, young Prince Phillip witnessed her being gifted by good fairies and doomed to death by the evil fairy Maleficent, although intervention by a good fairy weakened the curse to a long sleep until true love should awaken her. Assigned the task of defeating Maleficent before the curse takes hold on Aurora’s 16th birthday, and with no say in the matter, Phillip’s spent his childhood preparing for a battle he expects to lose—acquiring knightly skills, jousting in tournaments—all to facilitate his marriage to a girl he hasn’t seen since her infancy. Resentful but struggling to accept his fate, Phillip and his squire, Johanna, foil a robbery, helped by magical vines. Soon three fairies arrive to tell a skeptical Phillip he possesses magic. By day, they train him to develop powers he’ll need to defeat Maleficent; at night, he dreams of a girl, Briar Rose. They’re separated by an impenetrable, thorny maze, so he never sees her face, but over time they get to know each other through their nocturnal conversations. As Phillip’s showdown with Maleficent approaches, a devastating discovery undermines his confidence. The sympathetic characters, who largely read white, are well drawn. While their interactions often resemble repetitive, extended talk-therapy sessions, and readers will quickly grasp where the plot is headed, some action scenes pick up the pace.
For fans of all things Disney. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9781368069120
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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