An extraordinary teen girl may be the chosen one to halt an imminent war in this launch of a prospective YA fantasy series.
Maya Dempsey plans to compete in the Cluiche, an annual event in the Leigheasan sect, one of four sects in the land of Sori. Though females take part in a trivia contest, the physical competitions, from archery to jousting, are traditionally male only. Maya, however, is more than capable in these and other skills. Leigheasan can control elements, but they are prohibited from doing so during certain Cluiche contests. But when a fellow contestant uses a fire element against Maya, she retaliates with her own. Not only was Maya unaware she could control elements, she also didn’t know that she could wield all four—a singular trait among her people. Some suspect she’s the chosen one to “rebalance” power in Sori. Indeed, the goddess Nantosuelta has granted Maya various powers, and there are more on the way. Maya soon uncovers a plan to provoke war among the sects, which include the werewolflike Galenvargs, the vampirish Veirlintus, and the merely human Duines. Though she’s increasing her potent supernatural abilities and weapons, Maya is up against a formidable opponent. This shadowy villain, who goes by Dullahan, practices “the forbidden,” which entails imprisoning souls. Meanwhile, signs of a potential war include the missing shipments of the Veirlintus’ and the Galenvargs’ food supply (i.e., the blood of Duine prisoners). Maya tries to warn people of impending conflict and defend them whenever possible, soon realizing that Dullahan isn’t the greatest menace.
As this is an opening installment, Saur spends numerous pages worldbuilding. Much of the focus is on the Leigheasan, who are akin to witches. Maya’s friends Willum MacLeoid, a Galenvarg, and Jeremias Barraclough, a Veirlintu, provide insight into their respective sects. There are hints of the series’ larger narrative, namely that, unknown to many in Sori, additional realms and myriad other sects exist. Gaelic terms, Celtic mythology, and other, more esoteric ideas are folded into the mix. Fortunately, there’s a glossary, and the author supplies context when needed. Maya, meanwhile, is a superb protagonist. She often seems ambivalent: She’s protective of many people but also disturbingly unfazed when she kills. This duality is a consistent theme for the character, who must continually choose to deploy her powers for either good or bad. Descriptions are simple but effective; a few characters appear as mere “ghostly figure[s],” which, particularly in the case of Dullahan, can be unnerving. Saur engages readers with the anticipation of looming war as well as Maya’s burgeoning abilities, which she progressively discovers. As there’s considerably more to learn about Sori, its people, and the powerful teenager, fans of this novel will surely crave a sequel.
An impressive first installment with a remarkable, series-worthy hero. (author’s note, glossary, author bio)Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 278
Publisher: Koehler Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius’ life.
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Darius Kellner suffers from depression, bullying by high school jocks, and a father who seems to always be disappointed in him.
When Darius’ grandfather becomes terminally ill, Darius, along with his parents and younger sister, travels to Iran for the first time in his life. Iranian on his mother’s side and white American on his father’s side, Darius never quite fits in. He’s mocked for his name and nerdy interests at Chapel Hill High School in Portland, Oregon, and doesn’t speak enough Farsi to communicate with his Iranian relatives either. When he arrives in Iran, learning to play the Persian card game Rook, socializing, and celebrating Nowruz with a family he had never properly met before is all overwhelming and leaves Darius wondering if he’ll ever truly belong anywhere. But all that changes when Darius meets Sohrab, a Bahá’í boy, in Yazd. Sohrab teaches Darius what friendship is really about: loyalty, honesty, and someone who has your back in a football (soccer) match. For the first time in a long time, Darius learns to love himself no matter what external forces attempt to squash his confidence. Khorram’s debut novel is filled with insight into the lives of teens, weaving together the reality of living with mental illness while also dealing with identity and immigration politics.
This tear-jerker will leave readers wanting to follow the next chapter in Darius’ life. (Fiction. 12-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-525-55296-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression.
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After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself.
Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends. Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a "semifamous" local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic. Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving. Like most issue books, this is not an easy read, but it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-101-93471-5
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES
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