A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements.
In Biehn’s debut, set against the looming threat of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, two young men race to prevent disaster in Pompeii.
Loren, an attendant at the Temple of Isis, aspires to join the council and help implement reforms that will help the city’s residents, but something hidden in his past complicates his ambitions. Felix, a wandering thief, steals the helmet of Mercury—an artifact said to burn anyone who touches it, although it doesn’t harm him—and is threatened by someone who’s seeking the powerful relic. Felix flees, seeking sanctuary in the Temple of Isis, where olive-skinned Loren recognizes him as the “copper-haired ghost” from his prophetic visions warning of Pompeii’s doom. Determined to uncover the connection between his visions and Felix’s immunity to the helmet’s powers, Loren joins Felix on a journey that takes them through a brothel, bars, and patrician homes. Initially adversarial, the boys’ relationship deepens into something more (Felix is bisexual, and Loren is gay). The narrative alternates between the teens’ perspectives; Felix is a troubled youth haunted by fragmented memories, and Loren is an idealist who’s yearning for recognition. Their bond feels authentic, adding emotional weight to the story. The richly described Pompeii setting immerses readers in its vibrant yet tense atmosphere as tremors foreshadow the eruption, although the climactic event itself feels underwhelming compared to the buildup.
A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements. (Historical fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781682637326
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
