A solid pledge for an adventure to come.
As groundquakes destabilize the foundation of Krypton’s future, two young Kryptonians—an elite member from the upper-caste and a lower-caste soldier—search for the truth behind the planet’s turmoil.
Despite the apparent dangers, Krypton’s leaders refuse to acknowledge the groundquakes’ promise of peril, suppressing all insurgent attempts that suggest otherwise. Zahn, a son of the House of Re, believes otherwise, so he joins Midnight, an underground movement, in their mission to awaken fellow Kryptonians from their imposed stupor. Contending with the predestined, genetically ordained path laid before him, Zahn struggles to reconcile his destiny as a “proper son of Re” with the self-doubts that wrack him. For Sera, there’s no doubt that there’s only one path for a Krypton soldier: to defend the so-called “greatest civilization in the galaxy,” even if it results in death. However, Krypton’s terraforming attempts on other planets keep resulting in catastrophic failure, and Sera starts to suspect that there’s something seriously wrong. When she accepts a mysterious invitation from renegade scientists Jor-El and Lara, her path intertwines with Zahn’s in unexpected ways. This promising trilogy opener features an extensive, fascinating interpretation of Krypton’s flawed perfection, with intriguing political theater and existential quandaries. Yet development of the central characters falls by the wayside at times. The detailed, atmospheric artwork, meanwhile, offers an absorbing vision of Krypton as a golden, fractured supersociety. Most characters read as White; Sera’s best friend is Black.
A solid pledge for an adventure to come. (Graphic science fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9112-9
Page Count: 208
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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
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