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
A gripping mystery with a compelling heroine and just the right touch of romance (Mystery. 15-adult)
In the winter of 1889, a luxury cruise liner leaves Liverpool, England, with a murderer on board.
When forensic scientist-in-training Audrey Rose Wadsworth boards the luxurious Etruria, she anticipates a much-needed vacation before joining a criminal investigation in New York. But a young woman is murdered, setting off a string of killings that forces Audrey Rose to practice her autopsy skills under the guidance of her uncle, a renowned forensic scientist, and in partnership with Thomas Creswell, her fellow apprentice and, she hopes, future husband. As the body count mounts, Audrey Rose goes undercover to investigate the onboard carnival helmed by a mysterious ringmaster, Mephistopheles. The deeper she goes, the more confused she becomes about the killer—and her own desires. Audrey Rose is a witty, resourceful feminist who refuses to bow to Victorian-era gender norms. The book’s love triangle provides a steamy, consensual romance that refreshingly positions her as the arbiter of her own fate. Given the paucity of strong, biracial female characters, it is disappointing that no mention is made (as in a previous entry) of the fact that Audrey Rose has an Indian mother and a white father. The end reveal unsatisfyingly fails to fully describe her epiphany. Overall, though, this dark, gothic landscape is peopled with nuanced, diverse characters who keep readers enthralled.
A gripping mystery with a compelling heroine and just the right touch of romance (Mystery. 15-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-55170-0
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Crackling with energy, just the ticket for an all-night read.
Natural enemies find themselves reluctant allies in a war-torn, monstrous future.
Schwab’s latest seems poised to grab both her adult and teen readers; the world is fascinating (if sometimes a little thin—education and technology are almost exactly the same in this future), the characters complicated, and the political machinations and emotional depths both charged and compelling. The scene: an isolated supercity in former middle America, populated by the evil Corsai and Malchai and the more complicated Sunai, who can kill only those who have killed (and must do so regularly to maintain their semblance of humanity); all have been born from moments of violence. Against this, Kate Harker (fair-haired, partially deaf, inclined to arson and spying) returns to appease and impress her father, who controls the Malchai and half the city. Across town, Sunai August (seemingly 16, black haired and gray-eyed, a monster who tries to be human) wants his adoptive father’s side to succeed in creating a better world. Family and interpersonal dynamics, questions of good and evil, horrifying monsters (some of them human), and moments of violence both graphic and poetic serve as backdrop to a growing sense of kinship between Kate and August, who want a better world—but probably won’t get one, based on the zinger of an ending.
Crackling with energy, just the ticket for an all-night read. (Futuristic fantasy/horror. 15 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-238085-2
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2016
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