Whimsical and warm, if a bit predictable.
“Drum and dance, juggle and play, / While we steal your heart away.”
Life has settled down at Plas-y-Fran manor since Seren Rhys rescued her godbrother, Tomos, from the enchantments of the Fair Family—perhaps too well. In a mad moment’s glee, Tomos taunts the capricious creatures who had held him captive, heedless of the warnings of his elders. When a mysterious carriage arrives in a gust of autumn leaves, bringing with it an uncannily omnipotent governess who seems to hold the inhabitants of Plas-y-Fran in thrall, Seren suspects that the Family will not so easily relinquish their hold upon the house. Desperate, she calls upon the Clockwork Crow, her old ally, to help defeat the dark forces converging upon Plas-y-Fran. But when faced with an enemy even the cocksure Crow cowers from, will human magic be enough to save what Seren loves? Fisher deftly picks up where The Clockwork Crow (2020) ended, providing just enough context to avoid leaving new or forgetful readers floundering. Again, character development largely takes a back seat to the advancement of the plot, with one major exception: The motivations of the Crow are fleshed out, balancing the painfully understandable desire to be whole against the dangers of temptation. The story ends on an optimistic note that almost manages to mask the rank trace of lingering faery magic. Characters are presumed White.
Whimsical and warm, if a bit predictable. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1492-5
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Walker US/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
A strong start to a new series in the ever-popular Warriors world: Legions of fans will purr.
Increased evidence of encroachment by Twolegs and other ominous signs of change roil the five feline Clans of the lake territories in this kickoff of a new story arc.
In intertwined storylines, a distracting voice in a young apprentice’s head takes on increasingly scary strength, disturbing visions inform an experienced warrior that she’s been chosen by the spirit guides of StarClan to play an unwanted role in impending troubles, and a wise but weakening Clan leader faces being voted out of office due to her age. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Twolegs are tearing up a forested area, poisoning an important stream, and possibly threatening all the established territories of the five Clans. Avid series fans will welcome encounters with older versions of Leafstar, Tawnypelt, and other stalwarts whom they met in previous episodes. Detailed maps labeling the terrain in both cat and Twoleg terms appear at the beginning of the book, along with a cast list of truly imposing length, helping any readers who need reminders to keep track of the dozens of relationships and Clan affiliations. Better yet, expertly mixed in among dreams and discussions that crank up the general level of anxiety, the book has enough incidental action and individual wrestling with personal issues to help the main characters stand out from the furry crowd.
A strong start to a new series in the ever-popular Warriors world: Legions of fans will purr. (Animal fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780063357068
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Reflective children will revel in this thought-provoking world.
The journey to find a child becomes an existential quest for an abandoned teddy bear.
Buddy is not just any stuffed bear, but a blue Furrington Teddy with a Real Silk Heart. So why did he wake up in a landfill with other Furringtons of varying hues? A more pressing matter, however, is escaping Trashland and its murderous gulls and bulldozers. Yearning to connect with a child and achieve a state of peaceful Forever Sleep, Buddy and his new friends of differing temperaments and gifts set out on a harrowing journey through the city to find children who will want them. As they encounter other Furringtons in disarray, this opener in The Teddies Saga series becomes a mystery about why these teddies are being harmed in the first place. While the visceral narrative follows the teddy troupe’s adventurous challenges and survival, its focus is on Buddy’s inner struggles as he ponders identity, leadership, and other existential dilemmas. Kraus doesn’t shy away from anger, fear, death, and other dark subjects; instead they become opportunities for growth in difficult environments. Cai’s intense, slightly nightmarish grayscale illustrations add immeasurably to the text. Reminiscent of Watership Down in theme and structure, the novel’s intermittent teddy creation stories also become parables of a moral code and extend the epic story arc. A cliffhanger ending sets the scene for the next installment.
Reflective children will revel in this thought-provoking world. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-22440-8
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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