An enchanting, fast-paced folkloric fantasy that champions the power of stories.
Half sisters Lyla and Ilsette fear Cato, the tyrannical Owl King of the Realm of Never Moon, who takes faeries as brides only to steal their feathers and strength, leaving them empty husks.
For years, they’ve cared for each other, Lyla with her stories and Ilsette with her songs. When Ilsette’s voice accidentally attracts Cato’s attention, and he recognizes her half-human parentage—putting her at risk of execution for trespassing—Lyla sacrifices herself to protect her sister. With Lyla now pale-skinned Cato’s bride, Ilsette’s only chance of saving her sister is to recover an ancient talisman from a faraway realm. As Ilsette ventures through different lands, armed only with stories and songs, she encounters interesting characters, some familiar to fans of the series opener, Nettle (2025). Meanwhile, Lyla must rely on her powerful tales of anger, love, heartbreak, and betrayal—each of which is complemented by a beautiful black-and-white avian illustration from Shutterstock—to distract the Owl King and delay his theft of her magic. But as Cato returns to her night after night seeking new stories, she finds she may stand to gain and lose more than she ever imagined. The sisters must decide where they belong and how much they’re willing to sacrifice for love. This enthralling narrative features robust worldbuilding although the story moves so quickly that the romantic relationships feel underdeveloped. Brown-winged Ilsette and black-winged Lyla are racially indeterminate.
An enchanting, fast-paced folkloric fantasy that champions the power of stories. (image credits, glossary) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781774888780
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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
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