A much-needed follow-up centering a beloved character.
Murtagh and Thorn must defend Alagaësia from a shadowy new threat in this sequel to Inheritance (2011).
In an Alagaësia that’s at last free from tyrannical King Galbatorix, Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, cannot free themselves from the stain of association. As the pair hide their identities, Murtagh works to uncover the mystery behind a cryptic warning from Umaroth. Defending himself against an attack by informant Sarros, Murtagh is horrified to learn that a witch named Bachel has created an amulet that protects against even the Name of all Names. Seeking Bachel, Murtagh returns to Gil’ead, where he risks discovery by those who knew him from Galbatorix’s court. Werecat Carabel promises information about Bachel and her Dreamers if Murtagh rescues kidnapped werecat children. Murtagh and Thorn must confront the scars left by their enslavement by Galbatorix if they hope to succeed. Murtagh’s point of view is kept vividly distinct, and it contains a visceral anger over injustices that are expressed at a new level of intensity. He’s particularly protective of children in a way that wasn’t displayed by previous series protagonists. The psychological scars from both Murtagh’s enslavement and his childhood abuse are well portrayed and shape his characterization in meaningful ways. In a welcome change, Thorn is no longer merely a plot vehicle; with the intimate rider-dragon bond on display, a terrified, confused young dragon still learning who he is shares center stage.
A much-needed follow-up centering a beloved character. (map, names and languages) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780593650868
Page Count: 704
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
Both entertaining and well-written; demands and holds readers’ attention.
A duology opener that revisits the world of Divergent (2011).
Beatrice “Tris” Prior is Divergent. But before she can select Dauntless, her Choosing Ceremony is interrupted by a group of factionless rebels, and her good friend is killed. Amid the chaos, Tris sees Evelyn, the wife of Abnegation leader Marcus Eaton—but Evelyn supposedly died years ago. And, shockingly, she’s an Amity woman who’s holding a gun. Tris doesn’t tell anyone, even her father, when he later questions her. Her brother, Caleb, chooses Erudite—the faction that’s most critical toward the Abnegation and their practices—and Tris feels pressured to stay in Abnegation. But when her father tries to erase her memories, she knows she’s unsafe. Tris’ mother helps her escape to the factionless, where Tris meets Four, a Dauntless boy. Their relationship shows her that she was right to leave Abnegation—and that maybe the rebels are correct to want the death of the faction system. As Tris becomes friends with the other “faction failures,” she realizes that no faction is as it seems, and that power is a corrupting influence they can’t escape. This exciting work revisits beloved characters, offering a new understanding of them and of what happens when we stand up and ask questions. Returning fans and those new to this world will appreciate the witty banter, slow-burn romance, and heartache stemming from betrayal and complicated familial love. The leads are cued white.
Both entertaining and well-written; demands and holds readers’ attention. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9780063462595
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
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