Drags a bit despite the grand reveals but still offers hope for an epic sequel.
Mary struggles with the aftermath of the Battle at Miracle Lake.
Mary Elizabeth had a found family in boyfriend James, best friend Ursula, and tentative acquaintance Mally. After they were kidnapped and injected with experimental magic, returning as villains in the Battle at Miracle Lake, Mary’s old life disappeared. Now, she struggles to continue her quest for justice and equity in the Scar without her support system, her Monarch police department internship, or even high school after being sent home for associating with people who are perceived as unruly and villainous elements. As life in the Scar becomes more restricted in the name of unity, with the banning of words like magic and legacy, the imposition of a curfew, and the creation of a surveillance and enforcement task force, Mary seeks a cure for the Wrong Magic as well as for the insidious, reprimanding voice inside her head. The discussion of social inequities under a police state is simple but impactful, as is the use of political clout to bring people together against the villains. The underlying themes of trauma, societal corruption, friendship, and family bonds are overshadowed by the slow-moving mystery, but many readers will still find them relatable. Contrasting Mary’s sense of self against her negative internal voice is intriguing at first but drags on for too long. Mary is assumed White in a somewhat diverse cast.
Drags a bit despite the grand reveals but still offers hope for an epic sequel. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-04939-9
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
A trilogy opener both rich and strange, if heavy at the front end.
Riggs spins a gothic tale of strangely gifted children and the monsters that pursue them from a set of eerie, old trick photographs.
The brutal murder of his grandfather and a glimpse of a man with a mouth full of tentacles prompts months of nightmares and psychotherapy for 15-year-old Jacob, followed by a visit to a remote Welsh island where, his grandfather had always claimed, there lived children who could fly, lift boulders and display like weird abilities. The stories turn out to be true—but Jacob discovers that he has unwittingly exposed the sheltered “peculiar spirits” (of which he turns out to be one) and their werefalcon protector to a murderous hollowgast and its shape-changing servant wight. The interspersed photographs—gathered at flea markets and from collectors—nearly all seem to have been created in the late 19th or early 20th centuries and generally feature stone-faced figures, mostly children, in inscrutable costumes and situations. They are seen floating in the air, posing with a disreputable-looking Santa, covered in bees, dressed in rags and kneeling on a bomb, among other surreal images. Though Jacob’s overdeveloped back story gives the tale a slow start, the pictures add an eldritch element from the early going, and along with creepy bad guys, the author tucks in suspenseful chases and splashes of gore as he goes. He also whirls a major storm, flying bullets and a time loop into a wild climax that leaves Jacob poised for the sequel.
A trilogy opener both rich and strange, if heavy at the front end. (Horror/fantasy. 12-14)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59474-476-1
Page Count: 234
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.
Two teens with a dark secret return to their old summer camp.
Childhood friends Esme and Kayla can’t wait to return to Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training, ready to try everything they couldn’t do when they were younger: find cute boys, stay up late, and sneak out after hours. Even Andy, their straight-laced supervisor, can’t dampen their excitement, especially after they meet the crushworthy Olly and Jake. An intuitive 17-year-old, Esme is ready to jump in and teach her cute little campers. But when a threatening message appears, Esme and Kayla realize the secret they’ve kept hidden for nearly a decade is no longer safe. Paranoia and fear soon cause Esme and Kayla to revisit their ominous secret and realize that nobody in the camp can be trusted. The slow buildup of suspense and the use of classic horror elements contrast with lighthearted camp activities, bonding with new friends, and budding romance. Similarly, Esme’s first-person point of view allows for increased tension and action as well as offering insight into her emotional and mental well-being. Discussions of adulthood, trauma, and recovery are subtle and realistic, but acts of sexism and machismo aren’t fully analyzed. While the strong buildup of action comes late, it leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. Major characters are White.
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge. (Thriller. 12-16)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12497-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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