Fast-paced, witty, and heartfelt.
After the events of Soul of Shadow (2025), Charlie Hudson faces the fallout of betrayal and the pull of forbidden love.
Weeks after Elias’ shocking treachery, Charlie is driven by a desire for vengeance and feelings of guilt. Her brother, Mason, and friends Abigail and Lou can now see Asgard too, a gift that endangers them as much as it connects them to Charlie’s new reality. When a string of local murders of teens points to the culprit’s being Rattatosk, “the gods’ messenger squirrel,” under the direction of a mysterious force, Elias resurfaces, offering vital information in exchange for Charlie’s help. Reluctantly, she agrees, planning to use their alliance to make him human again. As Charlie’s investigation deepens, she uncovers her own magical inheritance. Under Elias’ guidance, her powers grow, as do the emotions she’s tried to bury. Tension brews between Charlie and her friends, who can’t forgive Elias even though she’s growing to trust him once more. Balancing mythic action with sharp humor, the novel’s ensemble cast, including a mischievous gnome with a sweet tooth and two Vikings who are addicted to reality TV, brings levity and charm. Amid the chaos, Charlie’s panic attacks and lingering trauma add emotional realism to this funny and emotionally charged work that explores themes of forgiveness and power while setting the stage for a high-stakes sequel. Most human characters read white, and Abigail is cued Black.
Fast-paced, witty, and heartfelt. (glossary, list of the gods, the Fenrir’s riddle, author Q&A) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781250342935
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 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
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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