Magic and mystery collide in this gripping Afrofuturist debut.
A teen girl is recruited to join a supernatural investigation agency after witnessing an attack on her father.
Just one year ago, Akoma Addo would have sworn there was no such thing as magic. Then her father was attacked by a sphere of light, which left him in a coma. She was recruited to work for InterMag, a group operating under the guise of the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Cases Division. Now 17-year-old Akoma investigates crimes in which magic may be involved and tries to solve her father’s case. When an undercover operation goes sideways and a body is discovered surrounded by ash and molten gold, Akoma realizes that the recent spate of crimes in AfricaTown may be connected in ways she could never have imagined. When she’s confronted by someone she may not be able to trust with a deal that is risky but could lead to her father’s being healed, Akoma faces a tough decision. Ghanaian gods and mages intersect with advanced technology in a near-future San Francisco in this story centering on Black characters that excels in its robust worldbuilding. AfricaTown, in particular, is beautifully rendered; the smells and sounds of many African countries’ cultures coming together in one community build a vivid celebration of the diaspora. The characters’ banter provides humor in otherwise tense situations, and the ending promisingly leaves the door open for more.
Magic and mystery collide in this gripping Afrofuturist debut. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
ISBN: 9781546147466
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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