An intricate paranormal tale anchored by teen female empowerment.
A teen harnesses her sensory power to battle an evil cult’s takeover of the afterlife in this second installment of a YA fantasy series.
As Kahn’s novel opens, bald, thin, 18-year-old Ellis Zephyrus is floating in a water tank in a government lab. After a security breach and fire, handsome soldier Jackson Hunter checks that she isn’t drowning. Ellis discovers, as Jackson resuscitates her, that she is nourished by the taste of his blood. She is part of a family of “alternates”: These are people who have special powers (mind control, for example) and are able to throw fireballs at will. The government captures alternates, including Ellis’ uncle Alec. Ellis seeks out Alec, but he tells her to flee alone to retrieve the guidestone that will lead to an all-important, potentially lifesaving relic. Each of her sisters has such a relic, which will conjure the ancient power that had been stolen by an evil cult called Summum Malum, now controlling the afterlife. Jackson soon joins Ellis on her mission. Their journey takes them to Central America and a series of showdowns with supernatural forces. In the end, Ellis must return to the lab’s water tank to try and free her uncle and reunite with her sisters so they can continue their quest. Kahn continues the fantasy saga that she launched with Cyn/Cassie’s story in Touch (2022), the debut novel in a planned five-book series. Kahn’s assigning of a heightened sensory power to each sister is a compelling high-concept character trait, and the novel’s alternates are, of course, reminiscent of X-Men. There’s plenty of Twilight-like appeal in this narrative, too, with an array of nifty shape-shifting entities (bears, sea turtles, a bobcat) and the romance between Ellis and Jackson. The complexities of the plot and backstory can be overwhelming at times, but Kahn manages to explain these well enough, such as the origin of Ellis’ need for blood. Best of all, Ellis is an appealing hero who mourns the effect that the lab had on her looks but also learns to embrace being a badass.
An intricate paranormal tale anchored by teen female empowerment.Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2022
ISBN: 9798985694635
Page Count: 466
Publisher: Radiant Road Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself.
In this debut by YouTuber Impicciche, a young siren princess is faced with a mission she cannot refuse.
Celeste’s mother, Queen Halia, has always considered her to be too emotional—like the irrational humans. In order to prove herself, Celeste has spent several cycles, the sirens’ unit of time, training to become a member of the Chorus, a militarized unit that patrols the seas. Before her final test, Celeste comes across an attractive human prince, Raiden, whose father is King Leonidas—her mother’s sworn enemy. She ends up saving Raiden’s life, but when her mother learns of her transgression, she offers Celeste the chance to go on a mission that requires her to become human and avoid being executed for treason. The narrative, which initially is strongly reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid,” has some slower moments and repetitive elements that are offset by witty commentary that helps engage readers. The opening drags, but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Impicciche does a good job of creating a detailed world of siren customs and traditions. Her characters exhibit emotional depth, conveying what it feels like to be lost and betrayed. Sirens have skin of varying colors, including blue, purple, and green; Celeste’s skin is “soft peach.” Raiden presents white, and there’s racial diversity among other humans.
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9798212980906
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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