A tale with complex worldbuilding that effectively explores what happens when voiceless peoples band together to make...
A new nation must contend with new power imbalances and alliances in Lewis’ second installment in the Durajan fantasy series.
This volume picks up right where the previous one ended, with Dothemides ruling the newly built city of Dothemia, forged from an alliance of people who were sent to the Durajan as punishment. Although Dothemides is beloved by most, he’s also more cautious than some of his subjects would like, especially in the face of incursions by other clans, such as the cultlike Creed, who continue their proselytizing. Dothemides hopes to keep Dothemia strong, but not by extending his reach so much that the fragile new nation crumbles. Still, his people face threats from warchiefs and the Creed, as well as from a new power: a group of battle-ready and ruthless women called the Furies who follow their leader, Svirva, with unflinching loyalty. Dothemides must decide whether and how much to engage, and not everyone is happy with his decision. This second series entry has a much quicker pace than the first and takes place over a much shorter time period, but the cast of characters swells even more, which means that some receive only cursory introductions and lack distinct personalities or voices. As in the first book, part of the story is told in the form of journal entries, which continue to read as though they were written by the same hand and don’t provide the dimensionality that some characters need. Still, Lewis’ strength is in the complexity of his worldbuilding; the various nations and clans all have complicated and convincing motivations, fears, and strengths. There are no straightforward villains in the Durajan saga—only people with differing needs and backgrounds who must contend with a world that’s often uncompromising and cruel. Some characters, such as Svirva, receive welcome additional characterization, and their trajectories make this book as much of a page-turner as the first in the series.
A tale with complex worldbuilding that effectively explores what happens when voiceless peoples band together to make themselves heard.Pub Date: June 1, 2026
ISBN: 9798998845888
Page Count: 528
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.
With only a month left until the world ends due to a swiftly approaching black hole, Don and Rodney, a retired gay couple, road-trip from Maine to Washington to spend their final days with their son.
After reports that a planet-swallowing black hole is making its way toward Earth, Rodney and Don—who have been together for 40 years and survived everything from homophobia to the HIV crisis—decide to pack their belongings into an RV, say goodbye to their neighbors, and travel from Camden, Maine, to Washington to uphold a promise to spend their final days with their son. They can’t wait any longer, since there’s already chaos around the country: “Military vehicles in the streets of most cities and towns. Looting, rioting, the burning of cars and buildings and people, all of it had already happened.” As they make their way west across the country, they encounter fellow travelers ranging from close-knit families to free-spirited hippies, some of whom have come to terms with the impending end of the world and others who haven’t. While the story seems to be asking readers what they would do if they had 30 days left to live, and reflects on what different kinds of acceptance might look like in the face of unavoidable tragedy, it loses some of its poignancy in a series of thinly padded monologues about the meaning of life. Clearly intended to pack an emotional punch, it’s failed by an abrupt ending, and the way the journey’s mystery—which will be obvious to many readers—is revealed by an info dump in the last chapter.
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781250881236
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.
In Green’s inspirational novel, a journalist boarding the wrong train discovers the right moment to speak the words that matter.
Daniel arrives at the Beacon station carrying a leather notebook filled with an unfinished eulogy for his still-living grandfather, only to be swept onto the mysterious 5:07 Gratitude Express, a steam locomotive that appears “for those who want to express gratitude.” His uncanny journey sends him through vividly rendered moments from his own life, where he witnesses the ripple effects of kindnesses he has offered and reunites—sometimes for the first time—with people who were permanently shaped by those actions. Each stop brings a new encounter: A childhood classmate says, “That morning, you altered the course of my life”; an elderly woman confesses, “Your simple act of kindness saved me that day”; a mentor tells him, “You need to figure out what you’re good at and what you like to do. Because when you do that, your potential is limitless.” By the time Daniel reaches Cedarville, intent on seeing his grandfather—the person who most profoundly shaped him—his reflections echo the conductor’s warning that “Time is unpredictable, and unsaid words bring pain and regret.” What follows is a moving affirmation of connection that honors the story’s central message: Appreciation should be expressed to the living. Green structures the narrative as a fable, with emotional clarity and cinematic pacing. The train’s dissolving walls, the recurring whistle rising “high into the dark sky,” and the symbolic briefcase filled with long-kept letters lend the tale a gentle magical-realist texture. While the storyline remains linear and accessible for all ages, the themes—regret, legacy, and intergenerational love—invite adult reflection. The prose is simple, intentionally so, grounding the fantastical elements in an earnest emotional register. This is not a plot-twist-driven story; it’s a quiet parable urging readers to act before time steals their chances. Readers who appreciate heartfelt, uplifting narrative journeys will find resonance in Green’s message.
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9798891385252
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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