Solid.
Orloff mixes suspense, romance and Greek mythology to tell the tale of a 16-year-old girl who learns that her dreams might kill her.
When Iris falls asleep, she always has the same dream: She walks down an endless hallway with doors stretching to infinity in both directions, searching for a boy she knows is there somewhere. It turns out that these dreams are real and that Iris has a strong connection to several of the Greek gods, who also turn out to be real. She finally meets Sebastian, who she’s sure is her soul mate, in her dream, but he’s trapped there unless he’s willing to risk his life to cross into the mortal world. However, a war is breaking out among the gods, and Iris finds herself caught in the middle of the action. Epiales, the god of nightmares, takes the fight directly into the mortal world, trashing Iris’ house and threatening her entire family. Among the gods on Iris’ side is Aphrodite, marvelously drawn as an overweight diva with zest for life and lust for the local Greek pastry baker, who sashays into Iris’ house to protect her. Orloff heads each chapter with a quotation related to dreams from writers as diverse as Shakespeare and Ruth Rendell. These reinforce the thematic emphasis on the importance of dreams and dreaming, neatly executed without sacrificing excitement or humor.
Solid. (Paranormal thriller. 12 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 9, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-14-242407-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Speak/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
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