An absorbing sequel that satisfyingly ties up loose ends.
The last time the gods went to war, they turned a nation to dust.
Now, at “the heart of the world,” the gods walk again, and a group of unlikely heroes must find a way to banish them…or die trying. Warlike Barrica has been strengthened. Macean, her brother god, is bound in sleep. Selly, meanwhile, doesn’t feel much like a hero; her love, Leander, sacrificed himself to become Barrica’s Messenger, and even with Selly bound to him as his anchor, it’s only a matter of time before the magic raging within him tears them apart. When the gateways holding Barrica and Macean back from the world are blown open, the nations of Alinor and Mellacea find themselves plunging headlong toward war, their people irrevocably caught up in the tide. Only a few remain able to see clearly—will their combined strength and knowledge be enough to prevent the destruction of their world? Although various characters’ soul-searching and prevaricating is unduly protracted in places, the plot overall thrums with tension, racing toward a conclusion that never feels foregone. Where this sequel shines in comparison to 2023’s The Isles of the Gods is in the depths of the intimate relationships among the characters and the ferocity with which they fight for their lives. Kaufman’s evocative prose and richly detailed worldbuilding are a treat. Characters’ physical traits are minimally described.
An absorbing sequel that satisfyingly ties up loose ends. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2024
ISBN: 9780593479322
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
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
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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