A compelling fantasy with political schemes, magic, and lovable characters.
A young man faces dangerous political enemies in this epic fantasy series opener.
Devon Mason, 25, and his cousin Corinne are gearing up for the “Examination,” a test presented by Magelord Alexander Mason to see if they are able to call upon the “Veils of Chaos.” The head of the Mason family and many years Devon’s senior, Magelord Alexander can summon the Veils. He has made the family and their home the most prosperous on the continent called Kral by traveling to other worlds and bringing back valuable technology and information. Devon’s Examination turns deadly, and Corinne receives a nearly fatal wound—but while they are collapsed together, hands and blood entwined, the Veils are summoned. After his injuries heal, Devon learns that he and Corinne have a deep, soul-tying bond, allowing them to share emotions and thoughts. The Magelord soon informs Devon that his life is now in danger since the world knows of his ability to call upon the Veils. Devon and Corinne decide to keep their bond and her shared talent concerning the Veils a secret. Now, Devon must learn to control the Veils, apprentice under the Magelord, and discover how to “walk among the five known worlds” in the short time that the Mason family patriarch has left. Hiding Devon on Earth to learn about the planet’s technology and what it has to offer is the Magelord’s first step. But even on another world, Devon’s enemies find ways to draw him back home, where he is a target. It will take all of Devon’s abilities and allies to keep him alive long enough to harness his full powers. In this epic, worlds-spanning novel, Christian skillfully blends classic fantasy tropes with SF elements, fusing magic and technology together to form a captivating tale. Devon grumbles about his mission (“My style of magic is powerful but quite tedious, given the delicate and time-consuming preparations that must go into each spell”) yet he gets easily distracted by a pretty woman’s charms, which makes him both believably fallible and enchantingly endearing. The author has created a fantastic universe with vivid characters and magic systems that will leave readers quickly turning the pages.
A compelling fantasy with political schemes, magic, and lovable characters.Pub Date: June 12, 2023
ISBN: 979-8398133417
Page Count: 521
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.
Three women deal very differently with vampirism in Schwab’s era-spanning follow-up to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020).
In 16th-century Spain, Maria seduces a wealthy viscount in an attempt to seize whatever control she can over her own life. It turns out that being a wife—even a wealthy one—is just another cage, but then a mysterious widow offers Maria a surprising escape route. In the 19th century, Charlotte is sent from her home in the English countryside to live with an aunt in London when she’s found trying to kiss her best friend. She’s despondent at the idea of marrying a man, but another mysterious widow—who has a secret connection to Maria’s widow from centuries earlier—appears and teaches Charlotte that she can be free to love whomever she chooses, if she’s brave enough. In 2019, Alice’s memories of growing up in Scotland with her mercurial older sister, Catty, pull her mind away from her first days at Harvard University. And though she doesn’t meet any mysterious widows, Alice wakes up alone after a one-night stand unable to tolerate sunlight, sporting two new fangs, and desperate to drink blood. Horrified at her transformation, she searches Boston for her hookup, who was the last person she remembers seeing before she woke up as a vampire. Schwab delicately intertwines the three storylines, which are compelling individually even before the reader knows how they will connect. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence. Alice’s flashbacks to Catty are particularly moving, and subtly play off themes of grief and loneliness laid out in the historical timelines.
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250320520
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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