An original and creative YA tale with a likable lead.
A coming-of-age novel with elements of romance, SF, and fantasy, set in a royal court.
In the fantastical world of Geniverd, a king and queen are chosen every 40 years by the “Crown of Crowns,” a bird that comes down from the heavens to select the rulers most worthy of the titles by landing on their heads. Teenage Kaelyn never really concerned herself with the possibility of becoming royalty; her mother and father are the leaders of their clan, the Gaard, but it’s been many years since a ruler was chosen from their family line. She mostly occupies her time with Roki, a teenage boy from her city who shows her what happens outside of her family estate. But after her mother’s death and Roki’s disappearance, Kaelyn feels like she has to grow up fast. She runs a charitable foundation in honor of her mother, spending her time doing good works in Geniverd. Shortly after turning 18, Kaelyn becomes engaged to a prince, and two godly beings tell her in a dream that she’ll be crowned the next queen of Geniverd. If that wasn’t stressful enough, Roki returns to her as a powerful spirit. Over the course of this novel, Loveman spins a futuristic fantasy tale that approaches some classic princess-story tropes in unexpected ways. The book begins with some awkwardly quick pacing, apparently in an effort to cover as much of Kaelyn’s backstory as possible before her 18th birthday. After that, however, the pace evens out and the story effectively finds its flow. Kaelyn is a main character whom readers will easily be able to root for; she has an admirably strong sense of her own beliefs and an appealing need to do what’s right for the people around her.
An original and creative YA tale with a likable lead.Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-83806-234-7
Page Count: 270
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2020
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
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy.
A war between gods plays havoc with mortals and their everyday lives.
In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette. Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85743-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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