A vividly realized, page-turning revenge story.
A young woman framed for murder seeks vengeance with the help of a new friend and some dangerous magic.
For almost a year, Dania has been in prison, framed for a murder she didn’t commit. With plenty of time to think, she’s become consumed with rage, plotting her escape and her revenge on those who put her there. At the top of her list is Mazin, her childhood best friend and first love, who betrayed her out of his loyalty to Emperor Vahid. Dania manages to flee with cellmate Noor, who’s also seeking retribution against the emperor. Since Noor has access to zoraat seeds, the powerful djinn magic that Vahid used to overthrow Dania’s kingdom, the girls devise a plan to use it to obtain justice. After consuming zoraat powder to change her appearance, Dania executes an elaborate scheme to hurt her betrayers as they hurt her, slowly chipping away at their power. But the djinn magic threatens to overtake her, and she can’t forget her feelings for Mazin. Dania must be careful not to succumb to her own trap. Varga’s debut, a Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, is a compelling story with a strong, sword-wielding female lead, intense fight scenes, unpredictable magic, and fiery romance. Chapters labeled “Before” offer insight into Dania’s relationships with Mazin and other characters. Pakistani cultural elements are woven into the worldbuilding.
A vividly realized, page-turning revenge story. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9781250877383
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
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
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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