A worthy end to an inspired, remarkable series.
Chute concludes her fantasy trilogy with a tale of humans and other beings united to save a multitude of worlds.
Archie Wellsley’s attempt to save his teen granddaughter, Ella, ultimately led his family to the parallel world of Jarr and its magical island, Jarr-Wya. Though Ella is still dying from cancer, which also robbed her of speech, she’s befriended nonhumans like the Steffanus, a winged, silver-skinned “she-race.” Unfortunately, the magic in Jarr, called Naiu, is slowly withdrawing, and its absence would mean the end of all worlds. Finnah, a living Star beneath Jarr-Wya, can stop Naiu’s retreat, but she, for whatever reason, wants a key that Ella owns—and she wants Ella to deliver it. While the various races, including rocklike Bangols and fire-inducing Olearons, debate who will journey to Finnah, Ella leaves with her Bangol love, Luggie. Everyone else must battle Senior Karish, who leads the Millia, vicious beings made of crushed seashells, who crave Finnah. As another enemy’s approach only compounds their predicament, Ella telepathically communicates with her mother, Tessa, to find a way to defeat the villains. Chute’s finale is practically overflowing with vibrant characters, and she imbues each of them with distinctive personalities (morally ambiguous Zeno and hard-boiled but compassionate Callisto). The story hums along, but characters’ quieter moments are the standouts. A highlight is tenderness between Ella and Luggie, during which she must remain cautious of his piercing nails and bladelike teeth. While the story notes Ella’s imminent sacrifice, the selflessness of numerous individuals, like those who sadly fight to the death, is impossible to miss. It makes for an uplifting tale, augmented by Chute’s memorable artwork.
A worthy end to an inspired, remarkable series. (maps, glossary, character family tree, acknowledgements, author’s note, author bio)Pub Date: April 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68463-045-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.
Two teens train to be society-sanctioned killers in an otherwise immortal world.
On post-mortal Earth, humans live long (if not particularly passionate) lives without fear of disease, aging, or accidents. Operating independently of the governing AI (called the Thunderhead since it evolved from the cloud), scythes rely on 10 commandments, quotas, and their own moral codes to glean the population. After challenging Hon. Scythe Faraday, 16-year-olds Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova reluctantly become his apprentices. Subjected to killcraft training, exposed to numerous executions, and discouraged from becoming allies or lovers, the two find themselves engaged in a fatal competition but equally determined to fight corruption and cruelty. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. Scythes’ journal entries accompany Rowan’s and Citra’s dual and dueling narratives, revealing both personal struggles and societal problems. The futuristic post–2042 MidMerican world is both dystopia and utopia, free of fear, unexpected death, and blatant racism—multiracial main characters discuss their diverse ethnic percentages rather than purity—but also lacking creativity, emotion, and purpose. Elegant and elegiac, brooding but imbued with gallows humor, Shusterman’s dark tale thrusts realistic, likable teens into a surreal situation and raises deep philosophic questions.
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
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