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
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
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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