Mo must play all sides, magical and mob, in this complex trilogy conclusion.
Mo's a double agent, working for her uncle, Billy, in his restaurant and passing on fake information to the Russian mob boss who believes Mo to be in his pocket. It's part of the deal she’s made to keep her boyfriend and bodyguard Colin alive (one of many secrets she keeps from Colin). She's also continuing to give information to Jenny Kowalski for her to pass on to an investigation of the mob outfit. Complicating matters is Mo's father's early return from prison and quick embrace of Billy and the mob, leading to a strained father-daughter relationship. Mo's worlds collide when Billy catches the leader of the Seraphim, Anton, sending Darklings after her—Billy thinks magic is his new secret weapon. Anton, still looking to destabilize magic and create a new order, thinks Mo knows something about magic's nature that can help him—and she does. The Quartoren, already proven untrustworthy to Mo, needs her to keep away from Anton and stay with them in a display of strength while they fill the council vacancy, after which the leadership structure will be much more solid against Anton's schemes.
Jam-packed with meaty storylines, spot-on pacing, an active heroine and the strongest romance yet, this ending will thrill fans of the series. (discussion questions) (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)Pub Date: July 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7582-6707-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Kensington
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012
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A slightly abridged graphic version of the classic that will drive off all but the artist’s most inveterate fans.
Admirers of the original should be warned away by veteran horror artist Bernie Wrightson’s introductory comments about Grimly’s “wonderfully sly stylization” and the “twinkle” in his artistic eye. Most general readers will founder on the ensuing floods of tiny faux handwritten script that fill the opening 10 pages of stage-setting correspondence (other lengthy letters throughout are presented in similarly hard-to-read typefaces). The few who reach Victor Frankenstein’s narrative will find it—lightly pruned and, in places, translated into sequences of largely wordless panels—in blocks of varied length interspersed amid sheaves of cramped illustrations with, overall, a sickly, greenish-yellow cast. The latter feature spidery, often skeletal figures that barrel over rough landscapes in rococo, steampunk-style vehicles when not assuming melodramatic poses. Though the rarely seen monster is a properly hard-to-resolve jumble of massive rage and lank hair, Dr. Frankenstein looks like a decayed Lyle Lovett with high cheekbones and an errant, outsized quiff. His doomed bride, Elizabeth, sports a white lock à la Elsa Lanchester, and decorative grotesqueries range from arrangements of bones and skull-faced flowers to bunnies and clownish caricatures.
Grimly plainly worked hard, but, as the title indicates, the result serves his own artistic vision more than Mary Shelley’s. (Graphic classic. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-186297-7
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2013
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A princess embarks on a dangerous path to the throne.
In the island kingdom of Visidia, where each person is allowed just one type of magic, only the members of the royal Montara family have the ability to wield the dangerous soul magic. Princess Amora is next in line to be High Animancer, but she must first prove to her people that she is powerful enough to use her magic to protect them. But something goes terribly wrong during a critical public ceremony, and Amora runs away with dashing pirate Bastian, whose rescue comes with a price: She must help him recover his own magic, stolen away by a dangerous man leading a growing rebellion that could bring down the whole kingdom. Debut author Grace wields her own magic with a skillful balancing act between high-stakes adventure (here there be monsters, mermaids, and high-seas shenanigans), bloody fantasy, and character development in a story with a lovable found family at its core. Amora yearns for adventure just as she welcomes her right to command her kingdom; her ferocious sense of duty and legitimate need to do good shine through. The novel’s further unravelling of dark secrets long kept comes with a recognized need for accountability and making amends which adds a thoughtful extra layer to the rich worldbuilding. Amora has copper-brown skin and dark, curly hair; other characters have a range of skin tones in this diverse world.
An accomplished, exciting debut. (guide to the kingdom) (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-30778-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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