In a sinister world of perpetual darkness, only Siria the sunchild can bring back the light.
Siria Nightingale has grown up reciting the mantra of Gildenbrook, a posh girls boarding school and incubator for the queen’s courtiers: “The Light was dangerous and destructive. Thank Her Highness the queen, the Darkness protects us now.” From the beginning, Siria knows she is different. Her red hair stands out, and she radiates extreme heat at the slightest provocation. At the Choosing Ball in Queen Iyzabel’s obsidian castle she is outed as the escaped sunchild and thus as the archenemy of the wicked queen. Siria explodes with destructive solar energy, sending the court into confusion and releasing her from the castle. She is rescued by her parents’ humble servants, Yarrow, a wise old mage, and his grandson, Linden, a hunky young wood nymph and Siria’s best friend. The excitement of constant transformations, battles, and terrifying escapes is sustained throughout the long narrative. During a grueling journey to reach the northern rebel stronghold where she can experience the vernal equinox, Siria comes to terms with her true identity and learns to utilize her solar powers for good and, ultimately, to destroy the Darkness. Her metamorphosis from an insecure teenager to a compassionate and powerful individual will appeal to readers struggling with self-esteem. Siria is White, and Linden is brown-skinned.
An absorbing tale of triumph and self-discovery. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-310-76973-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
Did you like this book?
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
26
GET IT
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
Did you like this book?
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Grammy Award–winning artist Keys co-authors a YA superhero graphic novel bearing the title of her hit song.
Smart, quiet 14-year-old Loretta “Lolo” Wright struggles to stand up for herself until, on what should be a routine trip to a convenience store, her 16-year-old brother, James, is mistakenly accused of stealing by the police. When the officer slams her brother to the ground, Lolo’s powers manifest for the first time. Meanwhile, Michael Warner, who lives in the same Brooklyn housing projects as the Wrights, is rejected from the football team for being too small. He develops exceptional fighting abilities and shortly afterward gets involved in working for a drug dealer named Skin. When Skin sees a video of Lolo levitating the cop who assaulted James, he wants to recruit her as well, and he tries to extort protection money from Lolo’s dad, who owns a moving business. Lolo must convince Michael to choose a different path; it’s only by working together that they can defeat Skin. Featuring dizzying shifts among multiple perspectives, this full-color graphic novel presents vibrant, expressive characters set against mostly simple, bright backgrounds, with extreme violence depicted in gory detail. The narrative briefly explores class issues and racial stereotypes, but while the setup is intriguing, the momentum fizzles and the pieces never quite come together. Most main characters are Black; Skin reads as White, and secondary characters appear racially diverse.
An action-packed tale for those thirsty for more superhero stories. (Graphic fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-302956-9
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
Did you like this book?
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
