A promising first entry in a new fantasy saga.
An old myth about a magic diamond sends an empire into upheaval in Lartigue’s debut YA fantasy novel, the first in a series.
A group of soldiers from the Ilyrian Empire have ventured beyond their borders in order to steal a crystal held sacred by the “barbarian” Pagani, sparking an uprising. Back in the Ilyrian capital, Jesut Edin, 13-year-old Brill learns the story of the jewel—the Ayn Noor—from his governess: “They say that if a person touches it, one of two things will happen: they will either gaze upon the bright shores of eternity, or they will be cast into the dark corridors of madness,” she says. Diamond merchant Emhet Turan is sent to the far northern temple city of Okomorling to appraise the gem on behalf of the crown prince; to the Christian Ilyrians, it’s nothing more than a piece of treasure—or so Emhet thinks. Roan, a young Pagani warrior, participates in the revolt to recapture the diamond until she learns that its theft may fulfill an ancient prophecy that involves young Brill, a quiet, unassuming boy who likes to try on his older sister’s dresses. As Ayn Noor makes its way to Jesut Edin, conspirators and innocents are drawn into its fateful orbit. Lartigue’s prose is filled with drama and mystery, befitting the high-fantasy milieu. For instance, “the theft of the Ayn Noor has set in motion certain configurations,” a shaman tells Roan. “New actors are being summoned, new deeds will hasten a new era. The past will be set aflame. The real question becomes, What will rise from the ashes?” Overall, the fictional world is a rich and complex one. It features some derivative genre elements but also some imaginative flourishes and idiosyncratic choices, such as the existence of Christianity in what appears to be a fully invented setting. The plot takes some time to truly get going, and the reader will eventually realize that the most exciting material is likely being saved for later books, as this one seems primarily occupied with stage-setting. Fans of epic tales will find much to enjoy.
A promising first entry in a new fantasy saga.Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73526-870-5
Page Count: 352
Publisher: One & Twenty Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 1, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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