A well-executed sequel that expands the mythos, solidifies the characters, and raises the stakes for the next outing.
The Lovecraft-ian adventure begun in Summoned (2014) continues.
Readers expecting an epic showdown between budding magicians and unruly demons may become impatient with the ambling pace of this sequel. However, Sean’s growth and self-actualization make for an entertaining story. Even with the strong influence of Lovecraft, the book reads more like a mystery than horror. As Sean spends his summer studying magic with the Order of Alhazred, he uncovers secrets about his family history and his new friend that may challenge his loyalties. Meanwhile readers must pick apart clues to uncover who, if anyone, is trustworthy. Both the characters and Sean’s relationships with them feel genuine, as does the magic-filled world they inhabit. Pillsworth integrates the contemporary world and the supernatural one seamlessly, describing cars and highways with the same attention to minute details as she does enchanted paintings. Though at times excessive, this exposition makes it easy for readers unfamiliar with Lovecraft (or even the previous book in this series) to follow the narrative. While the bulk of the book is in Sean’s perspective, the prologue and epilogue give the reader a brief peek into Redemption Orne’s plans; just enough to keep them guessing.
A well-executed sequel that expands the mythos, solidifies the characters, and raises the stakes for the next outing. (Horror. 15 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7653-3590-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
Gruesomely violent with a disheartening take on the future.
A troubled teen in a zombie-infested landscape finds energy and purpose in killing.
Sixteen-year-old Quinn Wallace, surrendered by her adoptive parents at age 6 after just four years with them, is marking the time until she turns 18 and can leave the Pegasus Center, a residential treatment facility in Peoria, Illinois. She cynically chases the compliance points given for good behavior. Manipulative and in love with control, Quinn, who has ADHD (and, possibly, antisocial personality disorder), experiences “emotions differently than most people” and has had to learn to interpret others’ emotions; she gleans information about her fellow residents by secretly reading their charts. Reports of riots in Chicago feel remote until one day the chaos reaches their locked ward: A custodian reanimates following a violent death—she’s a carrier, someone infected with a “new and terrifying virus.” Quinn, 17-year-old Keisha, and a ragtag band from Pegasus flee the facility and head south. People underestimate petite, blond, pale-skinned, and sweet-faced Quinn, who’s protective of her Black-presenting crush, Keisha, who taught her how to turn on the charm and play people. First-person narrator Quinn feels “the warmth of excitement” when she kills. Many of her victims are one-note secondary characters whom she views as disposable. Salazar’s series opener, which was originally self-published in 2024 as The Dead Weight, explores mental health issues and neurodivergence in ways that unfortunately feel one-dimensional and offers little redemption for its protagonist.
Gruesomely violent with a disheartening take on the future. (Horror. 15-18)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
ISBN: 9781464299292
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
A fast-paced supernatural mystery ideal for fans of horror games.
The game knows her darkest secret—and it might be trying to kill her.
Wracked with guilt over her little sister’s recent death, 17-year-old Vivian Reynolds leaps at the opportunity to play an online escape room horror game called Locked In that was anonymously emailed to her. In hopes that her return to streaming will help financially support her parents, Viv starts a practice playthrough by herself to test the waters. When the game asks her to confess a secret, Viv admits that she killed her sister. Uncanny events follow in the aftermath of her surreptitious confession, resulting in her parents and peers losing trust in her. With the help of Ash, a fellow social outcast, Viv becomes sure that a demonic clone is trying to ruin her life by committing heinous acts in her name. Told in Viv’s first-person perspective, the story has an eeriness that’s complemented by quippy jokes and gaming references. The plot twists are numerous and satisfying, helping to build suspense as readers try to figure out the mystery. Classic horror imagery is paired with a flawed protagonist who reckons with the guilt and grief caused by her habit of lying and her obsession with streaming. Viv’s mom is white, and her dad is Japanese American; Ash reads white.
A fast-paced supernatural mystery ideal for fans of horror games. (content warning) (Horror. 15-18)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2024
ISBN: 9798890030764
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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