Relatable and superpowered youths lead a sublime cast and a riveting story.
A teen harboring a special ability stumbles onto his town’s peculiar history and a chilling plan in Charles' debut YA novel.
Lonely 17-year-old Nathan Hawkins was orphaned as a young child. He now lives with his aunt and his younger cousin in Anne Falls, a somewhat obscure city in the eastern United States. Digging into his genealogy for a class project, Nathan discovers that his late father had investigated Starfall, a UFO that allegedly crashed in Anne Falls 20 years earlier. In the process of his own investigation, the teen also learns he’s not the only high-schooler with a superpower: Nathan can create and shoot fire from his hands, and he’s just one of the so-called and mostly unidentified Children of Starfall who, it’s believed, wield similar abilities. (“Despite our powers, we are human.”) When Nathan meets others of his kind, he truly fits in—it’s a glaring contrast to his relationships with his estranged family at home and the bullies at his school. But will Nathan use his powers to help those in need, or will a thirst for revenge push him into becoming a supervillain? Charles' character study consistently engages. Nathan is sympathetic as readers witness bullies accosting him as the girl he likes blatantly ignores him. The cast evolves as the story continues; not every mean teenager turns out to be completely heartless, and Nathan himself has surly moments. As a potentially lethal plot comes to light, the story’s supernatural aspects gradually move to the foreground. Various mysteries unravel, from Nathan’s parents’ connection to Starfall, to who among his peers is likewise hiding a special ability. The author’s concise prose sets an unwavering pace, even as Nathan conducts his research and characters chat, bicker, and occasionally voice their regrets. It’s clear that Charles has sequels in mind, as he only reveals a few abilities and closes this book with hints of a larger story that’s just beginning.
Relatable and superpowered youths lead a sublime cast and a riveting story.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Nov. 20, 2024
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
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
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