Sure to resonate in today’s volatile climate.
Gotham City was once a progressive, egalitarian metropolis safeguarded by powerful superheroes.
Then came the Silencing, a violent coup targeting any possible resistance. Now, all Gotham cowers beneath the shadow of the autocratic Court of Owls—all except Dinah Lance, whose fury at the oppressive regime is matched only by her desire to sing, although music is forbidden to women. In a narratively predictable but vindictively welcome twist, Dinah, following in the footsteps of her deceased mother (the original Black Canary), discovers that she’s immune to the effects of the Silencing: Her music and voice can become deadly weapons. And to make matters yet more disconcerting, new boy–cum–Court darling Oliver Queen seems just a bit too interested in Dinah—and her burgeoning powers. After a series of increasingly rebellious acts, Dinah quickly becomes Public Enemy No. 1. When her best friend is captured in her stead, Dinah must assume the Canary mantle. The story proceeds at a cinematic clip while still allowing for quieter moments of character development or vivid scenic description. The intermingling of old and new DC heroes is artful; Dinah is a powerful protagonist, vibrating with a youthful rage and energy familiar to readers itching for revolution of any kind. Monir never shies away from her tale’s unfortunately pertinent sociopolitical implications, putting a refreshing spin on the feminist dystopia. Main characters are presumed White; supporting characters are diverse.
Sure to resonate in today’s volatile climate. (Superhero fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Dec. 29, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-17831-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy.
A war between gods plays havoc with mortals and their everyday lives.
In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette. Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85743-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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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