Another captivating installment in a YA series that will appeal to fans of paranormal romances with strong-willed heroines.
After saving herself—and humanity—from a terrifying supernatural threat, Alison McKye is once again tasked with defending herself and her loved ones in Craw’s sequel to Atlantis Rising (2015).
Since Alison discovered that she’s a member of a magical race called the dewing that originated in Atlantis, she’s worked tirelessly to hone and strengthen her mind-control powers. When readers last saw her, she’d just defeated Sebastian Truss, a dewing clan leader bent on harnessing Alison’s powers to enslave the human race. She thought that his dangerous beliefs died with him, but when one of her enemies is kidnapped, she realizes that the fight between the dewing clans is far from over. As the last of her own clan, she must again fight against forces that would destroy the lives of those she loves. With the help of Ian, her close friend and love interest; his parents; and a cast of delightful new characters, she continues her hero’s journey. Along the way, she learns more about herself and her parentage. Even readers who aren’t familiar with the first installment will find this story engrossing thanks to Craw’s clear opening exposition. The overall plot does move a touch too quickly, however, and readers have very little time to reacquaint themselves before they’re flung into another conflict. The most impressive aspect of this sequel, however, is Alison’s growth as a character. Though she’s still as self-deprecating as ever, she gains more confidence as she learns to control her abilities, and young women will especially appreciate her commitment to prioritizing her own needs over romantic entanglements. Readers will also enjoy the new characters, such as Theron, whose rough exterior belies his ability to act as an intriguing and humorous foil to Alison’s pessimism. With this sequel, Craw continues to build a lush mythology that’s full of potential.
Another captivating installment in a YA series that will appeal to fans of paranormal romances with strong-willed heroines.Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-63375-283-2
Page Count: 356
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 21, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing.
For the second time in her life, Leo must choose between her family and true love.
Nineteen-year-old Princess Leonie Kolburg’s royal family is bankrupt. In order to salvage the fortune they accrued before humans fled the frozen Earth 170 years ago, Leonie’s father is forcing her to participate in the Valg Season, an elaborate set of matchmaking events held to facilitate the marriages of rich and royal teens. Leo grudgingly joins in even though she has other ideas: She’s invented a water filtration system that, if patented, could provide a steady income—that is if Leo’s calculating Aunt Freja, the Captain of the ship hosting the festivities, stops blocking her at every turn. Just as Leo is about to give up hope, her long-lost love, Elliot, suddenly appears onboard three years after Leo’s family forced her to break off their engagement. Donne (Brightly Burning, 2018) returns to space, this time examining the fascinatingly twisted world of the rich and famous. Leo and her peers are nuanced, deeply felt, and diverse in terms of sexuality but not race, which may be a function of the realities of wealth and power. The plot is fast paced although somewhat uneven: Most of the action resolves in the last quarter of the book, which makes the resolutions to drawn-out conflicts feel rushed.
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing. (Science fiction. 16-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-328-94894-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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