A fantastic, engaging, mythology-rich tale about family, murder, and, above all, balance and change.
The killing of a goddess tears the world—and her three children—apart in this YA fantasy.
Theodore, Fanta, and Tores are the triplet Major gods of Sleep, Dream, and Nightmares, respectively. They once lived together in Zion. But after the murder of their goddess mother, the All-Mother, when Night disappeared from the skies, they decided to reside in domains separated by the gates of Ivory, the material of Dreams and Horn, and the material of Nightmares in order to prevent a civil war. Ever since, the siblings have been filled with mistrust and remain suspicious of one another—after all, who else but a Major could kill the Night? The creatures and Minor gods who inhabit their domains harbor the same apprehensions. Now, it is time for a new Majoracle, the festival that takes place on the siblings’ birthday, when the gates are closed to mortals and the Major and Minor gods can rest for a few days. But just before the Majoracle begins, a mysterious child enters Theo’s domain, a youngster who may spark explosive, life-altering consequences for everyone. If Tores gets his hands on the child, perhaps the god can finally achieve what he wants the most: access to Dream Country, his sister’s domain, and a way to be rid of the Nightmares once and for all. Peppered with Brazilian and Kenyan cultural references, Brown’s beautifully written novel delivers an inventive, dreamlike tale about a dysfunctional family whose love-hate dynamics are infused with wariness, envy, and yearning. The book rewards patient readers who enjoy slow revelations and striking stories with thought-provoking elements of theology and mythology. The chapters deftly alternate between peaceful, unassuming Theo and bitter, assertive Tores. This leaves Fanta still a delectable mystery to readers, with a promise of more to come by the time the bracing narrative reaches its explosive twist ending.
A fantastic, engaging, mythology-rich tale about family, murder, and, above all, balance and change.Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-916042-98-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Onwe Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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