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
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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