An absorbing meld of secondary-world and urban fantasy.
In this novel, a teenage girl who lives separate existences in two worlds must cope with startling events in both.
Seventeen-year-old Alora lives in Terra, a realm where men can be Healers or Lifters (telekineticists). Women exhibit neither of these abilities—with the lone exception of Alora, whose Lifting powers are accepted and kept secret by her adoptive circus family. When Alora is forced to reveal herself, accidentally killing a man, she is immediately targeted by a sect of misogynist zealots. The group sees her as the Warden, a prophesied female Lifter who will bring about the destruction of Terra. Alora learns of her birth family and flees to her father, the ruler of a rival sect that recognizes and cherishes women. War is coming, and Alora must fight for her life. Meanwhile, in a different world, 17-year-old Alora and her brother, Jesse, scrape an existence working menial jobs on Earth. They live in Houston under false identities and on the run from social services. They have no one but each other, and their sibling bond remains strong. Jesse alone believes that Alora really does live a second life whenever she’s asleep. But when the man Alora killed on Terra turns up at her job on Earth and dies there, too, even Jesse starts to have doubts. Could Alora’s dual existence be the product of some deep psychosis? Baker writes in the first-person, present tense and crafts engaging stories on both worlds. Alora is a strong, likable character, and her sibling relationship with Jesse is a highlight. Romance also hangs in the air; Alora is drawn to several characters on Earth and Terra. But female empowerment finds a champion, and she remains self-determined and independent, even fighting against the insta-love trope. The author’s worldbuilding is astute and unobtrusive. The fantasy series opener finds its rhythm early and then breezes along, keeping readers enthralled. There is, regrettably, something of an information dump toward the end, and the story lacks the conclusive heft of a stand-alone. But by this point, the novel is already a winner. YA and new-adult readers will take Alora as their own and thrill to the thought of a sequel.
An absorbing meld of secondary-world and urban fantasy.Pub Date: April 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949655-50-6
Page Count: 394
Publisher: Purple Puppy Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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