The ultimate YA adventure, with joyous absurdity twisting and turning on every page.
A wacky SF battle for two Earths ensues in Hafeez and Sara Diwan’s YA novel.
“If Christopher T. Bilderblung had not been swallowed by his pet lion Zemelonius, none of this would have happened,” the authors solemnly report. The middle-aged Bilderblung is working in his office as usual one day when his 12,000 pound genetically-modified lion stumbles into the room, heaving and gasping for air (Bilderblung is unaware that his pet lion, which has a puppy-like demeanor, has asthma). Next thing he knows, Bilderblung has been accidentally swallowed by Zemelonius, and he must find a way to escape before it’s too late. He calls his friend Sims and informs him that they are actually living in a copy world—a sort of Xerox reproduction of the real world where real versions of them exist, and Sims must travel there, find the real Bilderblung, and ask him how to free copy Bilderblung from Zemelonius. Young Jonah, fleeing from trouble after a get-rich-quick-scheme goes awry, crosses paths with Sims, who bribes Jonah and his two friends, Sam and Archie, to accompany him to the real world. Little do they know that they are about to embark on a long journey between the two Earths, uncovering a larger, secret planetary web involving the FBI, the Oval Office, and even NASA. Worse, they come face-to-face with the supervillain known only as The Master, who needs a body to live in—a body that happens to belong to Jonah’s grandpa. Can Sims, Jonah, and their friends make it through either world unscathed? Can they save the copy Bilderblung? And, most importantly, can they fly under the evil Master’s radar? Readers will delight in the continuous slew of spunky, singular characters. The authors maintain a playful writing style throughout the novel (“Bilderblung was very busy with all of his projects. Projects that involved helping others. Bilderblung was obsessed with being of service to others. His friends found him boring for this reason”), which makes up for occasional confusion arising from the book’s hyperactive plot. This quirky novel bursts with creativity and fun.
The ultimate YA adventure, with joyous absurdity twisting and turning on every page.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 288
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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