A swoony SF sequel with as many thrills as its predecessor.
Natasha Antoinette Clarke continues uncovering new mysteries at the Gray Wolf Academy for time-traveling art thieves in Noël’s SF/romance YA novel.
Picking up immediately after the events of the previous book in the author’s Stealing Infinity series, this entry sees Natasha continuing to deal with the aftermath of her sexual assault during her last time-travel excursion, or “Trip,” as the students at Gray Wolf affectionately refer to their heists through time. Readers are quickly caught up on the story, though series neophytes may still be left behind by some of the complicated worldbuilding summarized here. Natasha does not know who among her circle at Gray Wolf she can trust, including the enigmatic Arthur Blackstone, ringleader of the Academy for whom the students steal priceless works of art throughout history; her swoonworthy boyfriend, Braxton, who always seems on the precipice of revealing a secret; Killian du Luce, a recently returned student who was lost in time for four years and blames Braxton; and Elodie Blue, the friend she blames for landing her in her current situation. The interpersonal drama at Gray Wolf increases with Killian’s presence, as he tries to get closer to Natasha despite his friction with Braxton, much to the latter’s dismay (unbeknownst to Braxton, Natasha and Killian even shared a passionate kiss upon their first meeting). Noël builds the suspense surrounding this uncertainty along with the tension between the characters themselves as everyone seems to pursue their own hidden agendas (“for reasons I don’t fully understand, Braxton and Killian are sworn enemies”). The book ends satisfyingly, with a cliffhanger sure to bring readers back for the next installment. Most of the characters are cued as White, though physical descriptions are sparse. Diversity is more apparent in supporting characters such as Mason, Natasha’s friend from her life before Gray Wolf, who is Black, and Keane, who is presented as brown; Mason is gay, Elodie is nonmonogamous, and two other male characters are in a relationship. Readers should be forewarned of discussions about sexual assault, but the issue is handled sensitively.
A swoony SF sequel with as many thrills as its predecessor.Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781649371928
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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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