by Caighlan Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2018
Nuanced characterization and crackerjack pacing make this an addictive page-turner for fans of the first, but it’s unlikely...
Teenagers exiled to an endless labyrinth prowled by mythological monsters struggle to survive in this gruesome and gripping fantasy sequel.
The unnamed 17-year-old narrator resolves to imitate the steely indifference of her mentor, the Executioner, but a brutal attack on Fates—the group that rescued her, then abandoned her to die—ensnares her in the bloody rivalry between the all-male Kleos and the all-female Harmonia, undermining any hope of escape. The protagonist’s affected namelessness (and egregiously symbolic nickname, “Fey Bell”) quickly palls; otherwise, her capable, decisive, almost-legendary prowess represents a stunning transformation from her passive helplessness in the previous title in the series. Much to her own confusion (and sometime annoyance), she even gets a taste of romance, cueing the inevitable love triangle. Still, the plot is mostly driven by a complex tangle of interactions between various factions. Gender dynamics (and threats of sexual violence) constantly simmer underneath but never as graphically as the danger from marauding predators or the even more appalling savagery of fellow humans. Glancing references to hair and eye color suggest a default white majority while hinting at another, darker-skinned ethnicity.
Nuanced characterization and crackerjack pacing make this an addictive page-turner for fans of the first, but it’s unlikely to hook any new readers. (Dystopian fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: April 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63079-086-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
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BOOK REVIEW
by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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BOOK REVIEW
by Laura Nowlin
by Lauren Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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