A mixed bag of exciting horror and romance elements let down by subpar writing and character development.
This spin on the 18th-century Gothic classic The Mysteries of Udolpho centers gay romance amid an eerie, paranormal mystery.
After Emile’s aunt threatened to have him institutionalized for his attraction to men, he ran away and found work as a servant in Count Montoni’s household. He plans to stay in hiding until he turns 18, when he can collect his inheritance. As Emile begins to realize there’s something sinister about the Montoni family, he also deals with his growing attractions to both Bram, a doctor, and Henri, Montoni’s nephew whom Emile had misgivings about at first. Just as Emile’s true identity is revealed, Montoni whisks them all away to his other estate, Udolpho Castle. There, Emile learns the truth behind the mysterious affliction the whole family suffers from and realizes that if he ever wants to find love and happiness, he’ll first have to make it out alive. The spooky atmosphere is alluring, and there are some thrillingly gruesome scenes. Paired with queer romance elements that take some unexpected twists, these aspects may be enough to captivate readers. However, exposition that tells rather than shows sometimes halts the momentum, and the characters’ growth often feels unearned because they aren’t portrayed with enough depth to have complex motivations. Overall, it winds up feeling like a story that had potential but remains unpolished. Emile and Henri are cued White; Bram is Black.
A mixed bag of exciting horror and romance elements let down by subpar writing and character development. (Gothic horror. 13-18)Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 9781645679721
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Enjoyably atmospheric.
Sixteen-year-old Cara Tang has been able to see ghosts since she was a child, but her power is more a burden than a blessing.
Raised by Laolao, her late grandmother, who is both a ghost and a powerful ghost speaker, and her anxious, protective single mother, who has repressed her own ability to see ghosts, Chinese American Cara feels caught between the two women, unable to fully embrace or reject her ghost-speaking inheritance. When she stumbles across the snake-bitten corpse of Zach Coleson, a handsome, wealthy, and irritating white boy who’s been her rival since childhood, she turns to Laolao for help. Her grandmother informs Cara of the existence of the Signet Snake, a harbinger of destruction whose lethal bite can be undone within seven days using antivenom from the snake’s counterpart residing in the liminal world. Zach’s ghost agrees to Cara’s bargain—$12,000 and a college recommendation letter from his influential dad in return for his resurrection—and the two set off on a dangerous journey across magical landscapes. Cara’s also contending with a growing awareness that her feelings for Zach—an unexpectedly resourceful and protective adventuring partner—might burn hotter than mere annoyance. Aside from a sprinkling of Chinese lore and original mythology, this ornately written debut focuses on themes of legacy and self-acceptance through Cara’s internal struggle with being a ghost speaker. The romantic tension running throughout is palpable but needs a little more substance to make the leads’ attraction feel completely convincing.
Enjoyably atmospheric. (Paranormal. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780063252769
Page Count: 368
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
Delightful.
A sweet second-chance romance set against the backdrop of the Korean entertainment industry.
Eighteen-year-old Min Sori’s life is a far cry from that of the average girl her age. To start with, there are her parents: Her father is a politician with presidential aspirations, and her mother is CEO of Joah, the major record label who signed XOXO, the hottest boy group of the hour. Sori’s relationship with her ambitious, absentee parents isn’t the closest—in fact, it’s strained at best. Sori has her own career as a rising model and Joah trainee, although she’s lost her passion for music and doesn’t really want to be an idol anymore. She just needs to find the courage to tell her mom that. But Sori is exhausted, thanks to her stressful family situation and feelings for ex-boyfriend Nathaniel Lee, XOXO’s Korean American lead vocalist and dancer, who’s extremely off-limits. It doesn’t help that their chemistry is still sizzling or that his family feels more comforting to her than her own. When push comes to shove, she may have to confront her feelings all at once—for Nathaniel, her parents, and her future. This charming companion to XOXO (2021) features lived-in characters and a swoony love story. Romanized Korean is smoothly incorporated throughout the book, and the South Korean setting is richly developed.
Delightful. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780063299306
Page Count: 352
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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