A rollicking steampunk adventure that expertly blends action and magic into a fantastical heist for the ages.
A teenager whose newfound inheritance puts a target on his back decides to join forces with a ragtag group of thieves to help pull off the ultimate heist in Fraedrich’s YA fantasy thriller.
In the fantastical realm of Springhaven, 14-year-old Varick Pendragon is adrift. His beloved grandfather has just died, and the teenager has inherited his entire fortune—much to the ire of Varick’s ruthless and conniving family. Varick’s life takes a startling turn when he catches a young thief named Coal stealing his sister’s jewelry and the two become unlikely friends. Coal introduces Varick to his band of fellow rascals, including Mercury (the charismatic leader) and Carver (whose ability to mimic voices is unparalleled). The group reveals their plans to steal the coveted Nightfall Crown, which will be on a luxury airship for an upcoming cruise—they need Varick to purchase the tickets and smuggle them onboard. Wanting to help the thieves build better lives for themselves, Varick agrees to the wild plan. But soon enough, everything begins to unravel: A brutal fight with Varick’s older brother threatens their scheme; a secret plot to undermine Varick’s wealth is underway; and a stunning last-minute betrayal leaves him questioning everything…and everyone. Fraedrich crafts an imaginative yet grounded world in which Varick struggles just as much with his toxic family as he does with pulling off the crown heist. The conferring of deeply humanizing characteristics—not just upon Varick, but on his merry band of thieves, as well—makes for a rich and rewarding read. The action (sometimes accompanied by a touch of magic) is frequent and exciting: “Well over an hour later, as the wee hours of the morning drew into their weest, Varick wondered if he might still be dreaming. They’d traveled via rooftop as much as possible, and he’d been glad to get some more practice roof-running.” Ideal for both YA and adult readers, the novel effortlessly weaves together themes of friendship, generational trauma, and the value of staying true to oneself.
A rollicking steampunk adventure that expertly blends action and magic into a fantastical heist for the ages.Pub Date: June 17, 2025
ISBN: 9798987843611
Page Count: 393
Publisher: Goat Song Publishing
Review Posted Online: Aug. 14, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter.
After a Nigerian British girl goes off to an exclusive boarding school that seems to prey on less-privileged students, she discovers there might be some truth behind an urban legend.
Ife Adebola joins the Urban Achievers scholarship program at pricey, high-pressure Nithercott School, arriving shortly after a student called Leon mysteriously disappeared. Gossip says he’s a victim of the glowing-eyed Changing Man who targets the lonely, leaving them changed. Ife doesn’t believe in the myth, but amid the stresses of Nithercott’s competitive, privileged, majority-white environment, where she is constantly reminded of her state school background, she does miss her friends and family. When Malika, a fellow Black scholarship student, disappears and then returns, acting strangely devoid of personality, Ife worries the Changing Man is real—and that she’s next. Ife joins forces with classmate Bijal and Benny, Leon’s younger brother, to uncover the truth about who the Changing Man is and what he wants. Culminating in a detailed, gory, and extended climactic battle, this verbose thriller tempts readers with a nefarious mystery involving racial and class-based violence but never quite lives up to its potential and peters out thematically by its explosive finale. However, this debut offers highly visually evocative and eerie descriptions of characters and events and will appeal to fans of creature horror, social commentary, and dark academia.
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter. (Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781250868138
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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