An appealing, down-to-earth hero traverses an endlessly captivating pen-and-ink world.
Illustrations from an American teen’s remarkable new pen literally come to life in this debut YA fantasy.
Nathaniel Hancock always enjoys the annual Christmas trip, flying from the East Coast to England. As always, the 13-year-old’s wealthy great-grandfather PaPa hosts the extended Hancock family. This year, he gives artistically talented Nathaniel a pen and asks for the boy’s “Masterpiece” (“This pen will help you realize your dreams”). The pen is magical, as a few of the things Nathaniel draws with it move on their own. It’s all part of Inkworld, which a “Pen Wielder” like Nathaniel adds to when he illustrates a character or a piece of land. Back in the United States, the teen periodically enters his own art as if it’s a window so he can explore the black-and-white Inkworld. Some of his adventures are positive, such as meeting an elf PaPa once created. But there’s the Dark World, too, as well as an evil presence, and if Inkworld’s various inhabitants want any hope of fending it off, they’ll surely need Nathaniel’s skills. Dean’s aptly sculpted young protagonist has relatable troubles; he endures bullies and an immediate family that practically ignores him (his dad, for example, is often away on business). Much of this series opener involves discoveries, as Nathaniel struggles to navigate Inkworld (certain areas he can see have been drawn by other Pen Wielders) and understand the time difference between this illustrated realm and his home world. Likewise, the teen is generally confused, with everyone from PaPa to Inkworld elves speaking cryptically or in riddles. Nonetheless, Nathaniel’s efforts to balance his home life with his otherworldly trips (without exasperating his perpetually busy mother) are entertaining. Even with all its complexities, Inkworld is both breathtaking and perilous, as some creatures—creepy, multi-eyed birds and “panther-people”—are menacing from the beginning. There’s much left to explore in the sequel, both in Inkworld and Nathaniel’s somewhat mysterious lineage.
An appealing, down-to-earth hero traverses an endlessly captivating pen-and-ink world.Pub Date: Nov. 20, 2014
ISBN: 9781967885008
Page Count: 262
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 5, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
© 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.
