A robust plot and worldbuilding makes for an engaging, atmospheric read.
The residents of Weymouth Island have a secret.
Hidden off the coast of Nova Scotia, their island is a gateway between the living and the dead. Roughly every decade, the Storm comes, bringing the dead up from the ocean. They’re drawn to the foundation stones of each of the eleven houses of the island’s families: Cabot, Beuvry, McLeod, Gillis, Nickerson, Pope, Pelletier, Des Roches, Bodhmall, Grimes, and Mintus. The dead attempt to reach the mainland, but the family members prepare by laying traps. Seventeen-year-old Mabel Beuvry knows the Storm’s danger; the last one killed her father. Her mother turned to alcohol, and her younger sister became agoraphobic. Now, Mabel and her House Guardian, Jeff, care for their estate. The arrival of Miles Cabot is a bright spot—he and Mabel feel an instant, almost mystical, connection. But the island’s inhabitants fear their attachment, blaming Miles for changes they sense, and rumors swirl of an impending Great Storm. Oakes’ swoony, gothic tale blending elements of White Walkers and The Fog features an original history that vividly breathes life into Weymouth. Historical journal entries explain the island’s rituals and beliefs, and a surprise twist and action-packed fight scenes against the dead keep the suspense alive. Most characters are white, the Nickersons are the island’s only Black family, and Miles is described as having generically “Asian heritage.”
A robust plot and worldbuilding makes for an engaging, atmospheric read. (map, list of Storm years, list of houses) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9781665952583
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
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