A rewarding page-turner that’s filled with deception and intrigue.
Two 18-year-olds collide in a bid for glory—and vengeance.
In a modern fantasy world where magical dueling is a spectator sport, Tamsin Blackwood, who’s of Chinese and Irish descent, is the next big prodigy in the arcane arts. Being the only child of the infamous magician Master Mateus Blackwood comes with a lot of public attention—and pressure that’s exacerbated by Dad himself. He’s invested everything in making sure Tamsin lives up to his legacy. When Tamsin receives a risky, possibly even career-ending, offer to face Lysander Rook, “the young terror of the dueling circuits,” she accepts. Winning would grant her the financial independence she needs to escape her father’s control. Chinese American Samantha Chan’s scheme to pit her champion, Rook, against Tamsin is part of her plan to seek retribution for Mateus’ role in the death of her brother, Jamie, four years earlier. Sam needs to see Mateus’ daughter utterly destroyed, “physically, mentally, emotionally.” But it isn’t easy for Sam to stay the course when the two girls find comfort and connection in one another that they’ve never had before. Tang presents a high-stakes thriller told through the two highly driven protagonists’ perspectives that explores themes of family, revenge, and internal and external expectations. Fast-paced duels and dynamic depictions of arcane magic flesh out the world, while the complicated relationships bring drama and tension.
A rewarding page-turner that’s filled with deception and intrigue. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
ISBN: 9780593858219
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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