An exciting story full of magic and action-packed scenes.
The sequel to Royal Bastards (2017) starts off with Princess Lyriana, her cousin, Ellarion, Zell, and Tilla in the glow of Lightspire—but where there is light, there is also shadow.
Lyriana is no longer allowed to practice magic under pain of death, Zell joins the City Watch, and Tilla becomes a ward of the Volaris and studies at the University alongside Lightspire nobles and Lyriana. Things are going reasonably well considering that they are all pretending, acting their parts to some extent. But everything changes when Tilla’s roommate, a wealthy Baron’s daughter, Markiska, is murdered in their dorm room and Tilla catches sight of a strange mage lurking and watching her. The rise of a cult called the Ragged Disciples also raises questions. In trying to solve Markiska’s murder, the quartet uncover a horrendous plot to destabilize the seat of the kingdom. Like the first book, this one takes its time to get going, but once it does, it is nonstop action and plot twists. The author comments on societal norms, sexist BS, the tragedy of history written only by the winner, and the hypocrisy embedded in class warfare. The cast has a number of diverse characters in terms of race, culture, and sexuality.
An exciting story full of magic and action-packed scenes. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: June 5, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4847-6763-4
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: April 9, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
A poignant, often insightful tale whose reliance on tropes keeps it from feeling fully alive.
After devastating diagnoses, two 17-year-old Texans wind up in a clinical trial where they find their own love story.
June has always wanted to be a writer: She’s interested in love stories, in particular, like the one her parents had. But a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia puts a hitch in that plan; as her cancer worsens, she heads to Harmony Ranch, which is near Austin, for a clinical trial. There, June finds friendship, which has often been a struggle for her, as well as first love with star football player Jesse, who also has AML. With their awareness that they may not have much time left, June and Jesse’s relationship quickly deepens. June, despite seeming strong in the face of cancer, is vulnerable in her self-conscious insecurity about the impact of cancer treatments on her appearance; Jesse is the epitome of a country boy, with loads of charm and swagger. Cole does a remarkable job of portraying the realities of cancer, including often less-addressed topics, such as how illness can affect relationships with friends and family members, who may not understand what their loved ones are going through and who experience their own hardships. However, the novel is hindered by cliches, including representations of Texas and its inhabitants that feel two-dimensional and detract from the story. The leads present white.
A poignant, often insightful tale whose reliance on tropes keeps it from feeling fully alive. (playlist) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: July 29, 2025
ISBN: 9781728297101
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
A heart-wrenching, deftly executed end to this duology.
A new (and improved?) Nirrim settles in as queen in this follow-up to The Midnight Lie (2020).
The book opens with a brief recap of events in the previous volume: Nirrim traded her heart to the God of Thieves in exchange for lost knowledge and is still distraught over parting ways with her lover, Sid. Thanks to her transaction, the Half Kith, the oppressed people of Ethin, have recovered their memories of the truth about their island and regained the magic that the High Kith rulers had been siphoning from them. Nirrim, now without a heart, even more powerful, and seeking revenge, begins a violent onslaught against the High Kith and positions herself as queen. Meanwhile, readers are gifted chapters from Sid’s perspective, allowing the cocky, pressured heir of Herran a chance to relate her own struggles as her mother lies ill, possibly from poison. The sweet, hesitant heroine of the first installation is gone as Nirrim descends further into cruelty and violence, while Rutkoski exquisitely fleshes out Sid’s character and the nation of Herran, gently tackling themes of colonization and its legacy all the while. The elegant prose makes this a pleasurable read that will keep readers engrossed. In this world, characters are diverse in their appearances: Nirrim has black hair, green eyes, and brown skin; pale-skinned Sid has blond hair.
A heart-wrenching, deftly executed end to this duology. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-374-31384-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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