A page-turner for thriller fans.
Horror grips San Francisco when a murderous ghost eludes the Helsing Corps, a famed band of monster hunters.
The last descendant of the Van Helsing of Dracula fame, Micheline disobeys her father when she runs alone into a haunted hospital, convinced she can exorcise the violent ghost that’s taken over the pediatric ward. Instead, the ghost overpowers her, inflicting her and the three young colleagues who follow with deadly soulchains that will kill them all in seven days. Worse, the ghost knows Micheline’s name. Escaping after her dad confines her to her room, she gathers her team and embarks on a mission to trap the ghost—a particularly strong one—by capturing it on film. Racing against time and the progression of the soulchains, Micheline and three other Helsing reapers desperately devise new methods to combat the ghost, even as other monsters get in their way. When Luca, a denizen of the plane between life and death called the Obscura, appears to Micheline with dubious advice on how to proceed, she has even more decisions to make. Alameda keeps the fear dripping from the walls as she plunges headlong into this full-scale thriller. She invents threatening and gruesome monsters, packs her heroes into seemingly inescapable plights, and adds mystery with the introduction of Luca and the identity of the terrifying ghost. There’s even a bit of forbidden romance.
A page-turner for thriller fans. (Horror. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-250-04467-9
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
An intimate portrait of female friendship laced with literal and metaphorical magic.
Getting through high school requires more than a little bit of magic.
On prom night, when Alexis accidentally kills Josh Harper, she panics and summons her five best friends—Paulie, Roya, Iris, Marcelina, and Maryam—for help. Alexis knows she can rely on them, not only because of their unshakeable friendship, but because of what they have in common: the ability to do magic. Attempting to make things right, the girls cast a spell but are left with a disconnected collection of Josh’s body parts, including a cold, glassy version of his heart. They divide them up and agree to dispose of what is left of Josh, piece by piece. Alexis insists on witnessing each body-part-releasing ceremony, in the process exploring her bonds with her friends—and, in one case, feelings that go far beyond friendship. But as their relationships strengthen, the spell takes its toll: Every time they lose a body part, the girls lose something too, forcing them to rethink how they define themselves and each other. This work of speculative fiction is a profoundly thoughtful exploration of female friendship, love, growth, and identity. The fully realized characters are diverse in ethnicity, sexuality, and gender identity. While the final two-thirds of the book are beautifully paced, balancing introspection and character development with plot, the first third at times feels weighed down by explanation and backstory.
Pub Date: March 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3287-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
An action-packed story expanding the world of women pirates.
An “assassin among pirates” embarks on a mysterious, thrilling recovery mission.
In this stand-alone companion to the Daughter of the Pirate King duology, Queen Alosa asks 18-year-old dark-brown-skinned Sorinda to lead search efforts for a missing vessel in uncharted waters north of the Seventeen Isles. “I’m not who you send to save people,” reflects the austere assassin to herself in hopes that the request will prove to be a playful ruse. Though the queen’s invitation seems in conflict with her hitwoman duties, Sorinda accepts the risky endeavor and subsequently receives an accompanying crew peppered with familiar faces. Kearan—an excellent sailor tasked by the queen to assist Sorinda—is someone she would prefer to evade despite his desire to forge a reconnection. Once the expedition is underway, the voyage slowly grows into an adventurous rumpus, beginning with eerie disappearances and a gripping sea battle that forces Sorinda and her crew to prepare for whatever or whoever is lurking in the treacherous seas. Themes of vulnerability and self-possession dominate the story as the guarded protagonist—usually cloaked in secrecy—steadily reveals more of herself. Seemingly inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Levenseller largely captures a similar blend of humor, fantasy, romance, and action. The defining difference here—a focus on women characters—is a fine attribute.
An action-packed story expanding the world of women pirates. (chapter annotated by the author) (Adventure. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781250864970
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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