Returning fans may be satisfied with this series closer.
The conclusion to the Ferryman Trilogy sees its protagonists realizing that there’s no cheating death.
Dylan and her boyfriend, Tristan, find their new lives in the world of the living falling apart as the balance between the real world and the wasteland continues to crumble. The veil between worlds shows signs of degeneration, and wraiths are increasingly intruding into the living world, leaving them to deal with the guilt of being responsible for this fracture. Everything changes when the souls of Dylan’s mum and dad are taken by the Inquisitor: “You have upset the balance, and it is my job to reset the equilibrium. I made a bargain with you, and I will hold to it.” The lovers are offered a chance to make things right—but this means crossing the wasteland and surviving all its dangers, knowing that in the end they will be separated forever. Meanwhile, ferryman Susanna and Jack, the soul she must escort into the afterlife, have grown closer and are hoping to survive their own harrowing crossing. In doing so, however, they discover something that should have been impossible. This novel features high stakes and examines ideas of accountability and making amends for wrongs, but these elements are undermined by the difficulty of sympathizing with the four protagonists, given their self-absorption. The worldbuilding feels flimsy and, disappointingly, seems to change to accommodate the characters’ needs. Main characters read white.
Returning fans may be satisfied with this series closer. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 31, 2023
ISBN: 9781536218473
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Walker US/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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