A swashbuckling, swoonworthy standout.
A beautiful witch tricks a handsome pirate into helping her escape from exile.
Majestics are powerful women blessed with magical gifts by the goddess Xiomara. After a former monarch of the Kingdom of Coronado learned how to weaken their powers, and the church deemed them wicked, Majestics were banished to Sinner’s Isle. Once a Majestic comes of age, she’s eligible to participate in the Offering, an annual event during which the king and noblemen visit the island to ritually bind with a Majestic of their choosing. Everyone knows that Rosalinda, who can control terrifying phantoms, is the most likely prospect for King Sebastián. When she and Juana, her seer best friend, are caught by their controlling mistress, Doña Lucía, as they attempt to run away, Rosa submits to her fate. But then she meets Mariano, the Prince of Pirates, whose ship was overtaken by the king’s men. Initially, Mariano, whose mother was killed by a Majestic, would do anything to get off the island, but after meeting Rosa, whom he finds both conniving and enchanting, he’s determined to escape with her at his side. Montoya’s debut is a stunning addition to its genre, offering a world infused with Mexican folklore, a charming cast, a bewitching romance, and a fast, yet evenly paced, adventure. Spanish is seamlessly woven throughout the text. Readers will fall for Rosa and Mariano, who are unapologetically irresistible and strong-willed. Characters are various shades of brown; some are queer.
A swashbuckling, swoonworthy standout. (map, author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 31, 2023
ISBN: 9780593643334
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Review Posted Online: July 31, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
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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