Outstanding transgender and disabled representation shines through despite less robust worldbuilding.
Two trans teens find each other and themselves in this romantic fantasy for fans of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and A.R. Capetta’s The Brilliant Death.
Bigender Val has always felt like both a boy and a girl: Valencia, a lady-in-waiting in Eliana’s court, and Gael, a knife-wielding boy assassin. Cade isn’t sure who he is anymore: Having transitioned and gone stealth, he has no interest in the throne but frequently doubles for his brother, Patrick, Adare’s reluctant prince. Val and Cade are enemies, both convinced they saw the other curse their families into an enchanted sleep that escalated their nations’ long-running war. When royalty from both sides agree to pursue diplomacy, Cade and Val are reluctantly—and then not-so-reluctantly—thrust into each other’s orbits. Although readers will root for Val and Cade as individuals and partners, the kingdoms’ underdeveloped magic systems and ever present yet lightly explored conflict can make it difficult to be invested in the enemies portion of their enemies-to-lovers romance. The nations of Eliana and Adare are inspired by Mexico and Ireland, respectively. Val uses a cane due to scoliosis and hypermobility, and Cade has a staff, which helps with walking following a war injury to his knee. Refreshingly, their disabilities are woven into every part of their narratives, including highly compelling fight scenes. Although secondary characters feel less fleshed out, there are many queer secondary characters, including an entire transmasc abbey with a binder business.
Outstanding transgender and disabled representation shines through despite less robust worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: May 16, 2023
ISBN: 9781250822239
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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 heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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