A thrilling end to a lively saga.
Two headstrong characters must trust themselves and their community as they fight to change their destinies in this trilogy closer.
Koffi awakens after her grueling battle with Fedu, the god of death, who remains a threat as the Bonding swiftly approaches. Not only disoriented and wary, she now also bears the marks of the powerful splendor she carries within her body. As Koffi is reunited with her friends, Fedu sends his Untethered—undead souls who aren’t allowed to cross over—to wreak havoc on their encampment, forcing them to flee without a plan in place. Knowing that Fedu won’t rest until he recaptures her, Koffi seeks help from Badwa, one of Eshōza’s six ancient gods, who sends her on a pilgrimage to recruit the other gods for the final battle. Ekon, recently reunited with his presumed-dead mother, is haunted by his past and trying to outrun a prophecy, both of which affect his chronic anxiety. Infighting, dangerous creatures, and a love triangle plague our protagonists along their journey; however, only together can they hope to end Fedu’s murderous plot. Their fragile plans begin to unravel as Ekon’s past catches up with him. Gray continues to dive into complicated relationships and explore what it means to break free from societal pressures. Readers will stay engaged through the vivid descriptions and action-packed battles in this African-inspired fantasy. Secondary characters are just as vital as the leads, something made evident in their development throughout.
A thrilling end to a lively saga. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9780593405741
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2023
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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
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