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 fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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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