Simply put, a darn good read.
A solid fantasy sequel embroils its irresistible heroine in mystery, intrigue and romance (StarCrossed, 2010).
Erstwhile lady's maid, forger and spy Digger is back in the besieged city of Gerse—picking pockets, avoiding the fanatic Greenmen and looking for any opportunity to aid Prince Wierolf and his rebel allies. But when her friend Lord Durrel is imprisoned for poisoning his wife, Digger devotes her skills to proving his innocence. The titular moon belongs to the god of wine, deception and thieves, all of which play significant roles in a convoluted narrative involving murder, magic, smuggling, sex, blackmail, bribery, religion and revolution, with a fair sprinkling of humor and romance. There's an awful lot of plot going on, but it never spirals out of control; Digger always manages to be where events are unfolding, make friends with the right people and uncover the crucial clues. She remains a marvelous creation, with a wry observant voice and a veneer of heartbreaking bravado; indeed, her personality is so vibrant that (lacking an equally strong antagonist) every other character tends to disappear in her shadow. While it's not a standalone, sufficient information is provided to start with this entry, and the main plot lines wrap up in a satisfying fashion—but an unexpected twist in the final paragraphs will leave Digger's many fans impatient for her next adventure.
Simply put, a darn good read. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-545-13608-2
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 6, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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