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
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
A sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener.
Teens from different social spheres collaborate, investigating magical mysteries while navigating their shared attraction.
When 18-year-old Wren Hayes doesn’t receive a magical gift from the three Fates—Dawn, Day, and Dusk—she’s shunned by Aurilian high society. Unbeknownst to Wren, 19-year-old Damien, a thief from the Void (a part of the city she’s forbidden to visit) has taken the locket that should have been her gift from the Fates. He’s shocked to discover a photo of himself inside. Using his own Fates’ gift—a mirror with powers of invisibility—Damien infiltrates a party and steals a silver watch from a guest. But his gift isn’t fully functioning, and Wren tackles him, sending them both tumbling into the mud. They tussle and exchange flirty barbs before Damien makes off with his prize, losing Wren’s locket in the process. Unsure why someone from the Void would possess such a gift and determined to uncover why hers was “unjustly kept” from her, Wren tracks down Damien. Seeking answers of his own, he agrees to work with her. Their well-crafted dance of desire and restraint is on point (“She stifled a stunned noise as I placed a menacing kiss—a mere graze of my lips—on the back of her hand”), melding seamlessly with the plot. The story addresses sexism, privilege, and wealth while hurtling the characters into a whirlwind of action and disturbing revelations. Wren presents white, and Damien has tanned skin.
A sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener. (map) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9798217117215
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
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