A dark, creepy, and complex fairy-tale retelling.
Snow White awakens to a grim and unbalanced world.
The land of Garedenne survives through balancing the power of Nature among its territories, each of which is under the guidance of a Seasonkeeper and a king. Snow White, princess of Roanfrost, expected to become the new Seasonkeeper, but after her mother died, she ended up with a stepmother, Queen Grimhilde, who cursed her. Snow awakens, pushes her way out of the glass coffin she has spent two decades trapped in, and encounters a land in which animals, plants, and even people have been devastated by the Blight. Realizing she must claim the role of Seasonkeeper and return balance to the land, Snow seeks aid from her old friends the mossfolk, as well as a mysterious young man who braves the Blight-stricken Enchanted Forest. But her journey is fraught with surprises, including a slow-burn queer romance. The strong worldbuilding and creative magic of the kingdoms add intriguing depth to the familiar tale. Nature-related themes—the dangers of trying to control it, the need to share its magic equally, and societal constraints on one’s wild, natural self—are smoothly built into the story, along with explorations of the dangers of hoarding power and unquestioningly believing in hierarchies and the impact of familial mistakes. Hannah also powerfully uses the original story’s iconic mirror to disclose revelatory visions from the antagonist’s past. Major characters present fantasy white.
A dark, creepy, and complex fairy-tale retelling. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781250884497
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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
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