A sweeping duology opener that’s hindered by structural inconsistencies.
Two rebels. One crown. A world the Angrezian Empire is bleeding dry.
In occupied Astola, dark-skinned Yaseema works for the Citadel—the colonial power that excavates fae relics and drains her homeland’s life magic while outlawing traditional burial rites in favor of cremation. By night, she uses her rare magical abilities to find stolen artifacts and rebury them, returning vitality to the land. When a former colleague dies and she discovers a golden key hanging from his wrist, Yaseema races to unlock the ancient fae queen Azari’s Golden Vault, seeking a relic that offers a way across the River to the fae lands, so she can retrieve the crown that can save her people. Across the River, Kiyan—dark-skinned, silver-haired fae Prince of the River Court—hunts rebels for the ruling Court of Salt while secretly leading the Red Jasmine Rebellion. Hoping to free his family, he’s seeking the same crown. As their quests converge, an impossible attraction ignites. The novel draws from Pakistani culture, and the colonial structure maps onto the British Raj. The parallel oppressions—Yaseema’s colonial subjugation and Kiyan’s courtly enslavement—are the novel’s strongest elements. Yaseema’s early chapters repeat narrative beats before gaining momentum, while Kiyan’s arc, which is often confined to introspection, stalls the urgency his position promises. The magic system proves elastic, occasionally bending to plot convenience with rules asserted as needed.
A sweeping duology opener that’s hindered by structural inconsistencies. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9781250878694
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
