Superb epic political fantasy, with complex relationships, intense warfare, and a slow-burn build.
A growing darkness spreads as three companions escape together in this follow-up to The Hearthlord (2025).
Senya, with her angelic healing powers, barely escapes a religious cult; Nell, the Crown Princess of Aesterland, flees an arranged marriage and the destruction of her country; and Siegfried the assassin travels with them, intent on avenging his family. The trio join forces against the Jenseiters, a growing political force spreading across their nations thanks to the powers of their soldiers, the Reinbann. At first, Senya, Nell, and Siegfried ally themselves with the inhabitants of the freezing Norogard. Then they meet the Neseveen Desert people, whose mythology hides an ancient secret. Meanwhile, the Jenseiters march slowly on, insidiously overpowering nations in an echo of the havoc they wreaked before being sealed away 400 years ago. Werbaneth fills in the main characters’ backstories, making this volume work well as a stand-alone read. This second entry offers more glimpses into a politically charged landscape populated by power-hungry people, weaving the leads’ storylines together into an intricate arc that contains many plot twists. The physically diverse cultures and climates reveal expert worldbuilding; each country has its own lore and value system. Magical creatures such as the bear cavalry and sand kraken add to the action. A somewhat abrupt, open-ended finale leaves room for a sequel.
Superb epic political fantasy, with complex relationships, intense warfare, and a slow-burn build. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2026
ISBN: 9781960120328
Page Count: 291
Publisher: Sterncastle Publishing
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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