An engaging fusion of SF, romance, and YA elements.
Anne’s YA novel, the first in a series, follows two members of rival communities as they struggle to overcome deep-seated hostilities that could destroy both factions.
The planet Naisyle is divided by a massive rift called the Gap that has separated two divergent populations for countless eons. On one side of the Gap is a low-tech village inhabited by people who have made the chasm a forbidden zone; they blame their rivals for the mysterious kidnappings of wayward children and careless scouts. On the other side is a technologically advanced city populated by people who see their opposite number as violent barbarians. When 18-year-old Astraea Elms’ little brother, Tarek, disappears in the Gap, her village quickly plans a rescue attempt, even though they have no idea where he is or whether he’s even still alive. The dangerous mission goes sideways, and Astraea finds herself a prisoner in Syong City’s Zenith building, the shining centerpiece of the Syong City government. After recently losing his father to a genetic brain disorder—a condition that he has unfortunately inherited—20-year-old Jassien “Jas” Marcello has taken over leadership of the Zenith building. When he meets Astraea, one of the outsiders who attacked his city, he does the unthinkable: He falls in love with the enemy. As the two learn more about one another, they discover that they may not be enemies after all. While the novel’s deft worldbuilding, plot intricacy, and pacing are all noteworthy, the real fuel to this story is the deeply emotional—and tumultuous—connection between Astraea and Jas. The organic development of their bond is tonally perfect, equal parts innocent, naïve, and passionate: “Our kissing…awakened something inside of me I didn’t know existed. I want more, like a bug bite wants to be scratched. I can’t get enough.” This first volume sets up a saga with the potential to rival The Hunger Games series in terms of narrative quality and commercial appeal.
An engaging fusion of SF, romance, and YA elements.Pub Date: March 1, 2026
ISBN: 9798993110646
Page Count: 254
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
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 thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.
Two teens train to be society-sanctioned killers in an otherwise immortal world.
On post-mortal Earth, humans live long (if not particularly passionate) lives without fear of disease, aging, or accidents. Operating independently of the governing AI (called the Thunderhead since it evolved from the cloud), scythes rely on 10 commandments, quotas, and their own moral codes to glean the population. After challenging Hon. Scythe Faraday, 16-year-olds Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova reluctantly become his apprentices. Subjected to killcraft training, exposed to numerous executions, and discouraged from becoming allies or lovers, the two find themselves engaged in a fatal competition but equally determined to fight corruption and cruelty. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. Scythes’ journal entries accompany Rowan’s and Citra’s dual and dueling narratives, revealing both personal struggles and societal problems. The futuristic post–2042 MidMerican world is both dystopia and utopia, free of fear, unexpected death, and blatant racism—multiracial main characters discuss their diverse ethnic percentages rather than purity—but also lacking creativity, emotion, and purpose. Elegant and elegiac, brooding but imbued with gallows humor, Shusterman’s dark tale thrusts realistic, likable teens into a surreal situation and raises deep philosophic questions.
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
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