An easy-to-engage-with slice of escapism that fans of the first volume will appreciate.
Shae and her friends seek to overthrow Cathal’s oppressive reign in this duology closer.
Guided by a capriciously behaving torn page from the Book of Days, Shae and companions—prickly former trainer Kennan, best friend Fiona, and former suitor Mads—race across Montane in hopes of reaching safety in Gondal. They succeed, learning lots of backstory in the process about Shae’s mother and the Bard rebellion in general. But Gondal, though quite nifty (and fun to explore through Shae’s unworldly eyes), has problems of its own, resulting in the intense marginalization of Montanian refugees. While the heroes try to figure out whom they can trust and how to improve the lives of their countrymen at home and abroad, there’s a strong theme of speaking up as not being enough; though the explicit calls to action and critiques of ineffective protests can be didactic at times, these moments are justified by how they fit into the plot. Themes aside, the plot’s story beats are familiar enough that some plot twists will be expected. Plenty of action sequences and rising stakes provide incentive to ignore these moments of predictability. In the relationship storylines, Shae’s still reeling and off balance in dealing with her feelings of attraction to and betrayal by Ravod; her friendships are given equal weight, though. Among secondary characters, there’s a girl-girl romance and nonbinary representation. Aside from dark-skinned Kennan, characters default to White.
An easy-to-engage-with slice of escapism that fans of the first volume will appreciate. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-23593-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world.
The Pixie Dust Root is in danger, and one fairy is determined to save it—and the Pixie Dust Tree that all of Pixie Hollow depends upon.
In this stand-alone story set in the same world as Allison Saft’s Wings of Starlight (2025), Periwinkle, a frost-talent who has a gift for finding things—or maybe they have a way of finding her?—discovers a lost thread of magic that grants her the ability to dream. But not all dreams are as sparkly as Periwinkle. One night, she awakens from a nightmare to find herself in the Winter Woods with a fairy she’s never met, a sparrow man named Weaver, who claims to be a rare dream-talent. Disconcertingly, Weaver knows her—he calls her “perfect Periwinkle” and for some reason doesn’t seem to like her very much. Nevertheless, Periwinkle finds herself drawn to Weaver. When he tells her he can save the Pixie Dust Root by spinning her dreams into thread if she helps him find the magic tools he needs, Periwinkle agrees. Their journey leads the pair, who are pale-skinned, to discover things they like about each other, too. This is an opposites-attract adventure with romantic tension, a high-stakes quest, personal discovery, and betrayal. The characters struggle with inner turmoil while also adjusting their understanding of each other. Bright balances the fun with explorations of themes of snap judgments, labels, and weaponizing fear.
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9780736447362
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney/Random House
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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