After Gigi Boudakian accuses him of rape, Keir struggles to reset his life in college, still certain he’s done nothing wrong.
Keir waits for someone to come for him immediately after the date rape that ended Lynch’s Inexcusable (2005). His former friend Carl arrives to give him the beating of a lifetime—word of what Keir has done travels fast. Keir’s father, Ray, takes him home to recover. Keir is done with his hometown, done with the idea of attending Norfolk, where the white football player had committed but is sure to be infamous by now. He decides on the chance at anonymity at Carnegie, across the country. There, he’s haunted by Gigi in his dreams. A former football teammate surprises him with his presence—and his animosity. The best parts of his new life are his friendly roommate and a thrilling new girl. For all the opportunities Keir gets, his inability to empathize with other people keeps him from succeeding. And he has to confront what he left behind sooner rather than later. As an unreliable narrator with a disturbing sense of entitlement and lack of self-awareness, Keir will have readers dying for justice or radical growth. But his shift in perspective is too little and comes too late. Those who found the previous chapter of Keir’s story fascinating will find little new territory to explore here.
An exhausting run with a protagonist seemingly incapable of growth. (Fiction. 12-17)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2985-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES
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Lady Hollis flees her country after her new husband is killed.
In The Betrothed (2020), Hollis fell in love with Silas, the son of an Isolten family who sought asylum from their cruel king, and chose him over her intended match, King Jameson. Since Silas, his father, his brothers, and her parents have been killed, she decides to travel to Isolte with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Formerly primarily interested in dresses, dancing, and romance, Hollis now proves her mettle. Etan, Silas’ cousin, arrives to escort the family, and he clashes with Hollis from the moment they meet. The society they live in, modeled after medieval Europe, with castles, tournaments, kings, queens, and nobles, generally follows traditional gender roles, but Hollis sometimes breaks through the accepted boundaries. When Etan wants to lead a revolt against his own King Quinten, who is just one of the novel’s major betrayers, Hollis uses her wits to get the evidence needed to convince others that he is guilty of crimes against his own people. She bravely returns to Coroa to confront King Jameson when she finds out that he, too, has carried out unspeakable crimes. Hollis and Etan’s verbal wars are fun, predictably leading to love, but the political intrigue sometimes drags the novel down. Characters default to White.
Fans of the previous entry will enjoy following the story of a young woman who changes the fates of two countries. (Historical romance. 13-16)Pub Date: July 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-229166-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
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In Mersailles, “Cinderella” is more than just a fairy tale: It’s the basis for a harsh monarch’s throttlehold on his kingdom.
Sophia is turning 16, the age at which young women must attend King Manford’s annual ball, at which they are scrutinized by and married off to male attendees. Any young woman who has not been claimed after her third ball is destined to spend the rest of her days engaged in hard labor. But being chosen can be its own curse in a society where domestic violence is common. Sophia is a beautiful Black girl in love with dark-haired Erin, one of her best friends. While racial diversity is a natural part of this world, the same acceptance does not exist for those who defy rigid gender norms: Anything other than heterosexual desire is strictly forbidden, and while Sophia wishes to escape as a couple, Erin is too fearful. After fleeing the ball, Sophia stumbles across Cinderella’s mausoleum, hidden in the woods. There she meets rebellious Constance, an attractive young red-haired woman with a very personal motivation for sabotaging the monarchy. As the two grew closer—and sparks fly—they discover secrets that could end Manford’s cruel reign. This promising debut deals with themes around rebellion and empowerment as well as the toll that rejecting the status quo can take on relationships. The atmospheric setting is a particular strength, and the twists and turns will keep readers in suspense.
Will both entertain and encourage reflection. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: July 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0387-9
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 27, 2021
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