This graphic read solidly sets fans up for the next volume.
Science and magic, royalty and rabble begin to clash in this dystopian sequel (The Jewel, 2014).
The Duchess of the Lake bought teenage Violet at Auction to serve as a surrogate mother, ushering her into a luxurious life in the Jewel, which occupies the heart of the concentric Lone City. Horrified by rampant exploitation and experimentation, Violet just wanted freedom. Now imprisoned for an indiscretion with the off-limits Ash, male companion to the royal daughters, Violet petitions enigmatic eunuch Lucien for assistance. Aided by a secret society but hunted by the Regimentals, Ash and Violet slowly escape, their passage fraught with danger—and many characters’ back stories. In exchange for her freedom, Violet must become a figurehead for the revolution, rousing rabble, scaring surrogates, and employing the native, elemental magic of the island against the colonialist oppressors. Violet’s path is clearly mapped by Lucien (and the author) and follows the trendy solitary-heroine–vs.–corrupt-rulers trope, but the plentiful action, complex characters, and mix of science and magic help avoid predictability. However, the magical empowerment of the surrogates and stark socioeconomic inequalities do not explain the illogical disposability of surrogates, undermining both the premise and the high stakes. Ewing bravely blends several genres—science fiction, fantasy, medical thriller, dystopian—and semisuccessfully balances teen romance and angst against family drama, rape accusations, prostitution, and slavery.
This graphic read solidly sets fans up for the next volume. (Dystopian romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-223581-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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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