A brisk, entertaining tale that unfolds in a wonderfully bizarre world.
In this YA fantasy, a teenager finds himself in a strange and precarious land to help a princess he’s never met.
Above the Thames,Londoner Archie spies a girl disappearing through a hole suddenly materializing in the stone floor of a bridge. As many teen boys would do, he soon follows her. He’s suddenly in the Merge, an odd place that’s covered in vines and has no sun. He meets up with the girl, Inez, who tells Archie startling news. He’s a locksmith—able to travel between worlds by opening locks most can’t see. At first, Archie sticks around to learn all about the Merge. But Inez needs a locksmith for her mission, a job Archie gleefully accepts. Though she keeps the operation’s details to herself, Inez’s plan involves a missing princess and a mysterious vote. Meanwhile, the realms in the Merge are in danger; of the nine, three have “fallen.” Looking to take over the remaining realms is a group with diabolical intentions called the SubMerged. The band’s assassins had been chasing Inez before she and Archie even connected. With time running out, the two hurry to reach a kingdom before the enigmatic voting takes place. Shan’s series opener, which originally appeared as three shorter books, presents a cohesive story. Much of this enjoyable volume focuses on Archie’s familiarizing himself with the Merge. Despite offering abundant dialogue, the author doesn’t bog down the tale with Merge particulars. The details eventually come to light throughout Archie’s rousing adventures. Along the way, a king calls him “a Lox,” a locksmith. The hero’s escapades include fleeing horrific creatures known as hell jackals and liberating a prisoner from the Merge city of Suanpan, a “giant casino.” The fast-paced narrative culminates with Inez’s stunning ploy, which isn’t entirely clear until the end. There’s also a surprising resolution, considering that a sequel is planned. Still, Shan leaves plenty of avenues to explore in the second installment, from Archie’s loss of his foster brother to Inez’s mostly unknown past.
A brisk, entertaining tale that unfolds in a wonderfully bizarre world. (author’s bibliography)Pub Date: Oct. 31, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-91-000914-7
Page Count: 506
Publisher: Home of the Damned
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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