by Heather Burch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 9, 2012
Fans of the series will likely be entertained, but those who disliked Halflings (2012) shouldn’t seek redemption here.
The second installment of the Halflings trilogy picks up right where readers left off, with Nikki Youngblood caught smack-dab in the middle of a love triangle between the two half-men, half-angels assigned to protect her.
Tensions are even higher now that Nikki, Mace and Raven (plus a trio of Halfling ladies and Will, everyone’s resident guardian angel) are forced to exist in close quarters on a yacht bound for Europe as the host of heavenly bodies continues its quest to uncover the dark forces that threaten the worlds of both men and angels. The ocean voyage is a necessity, as the “creatures from the pit” have been cast into “dry places,” and it allows Nikki time to explore her unique talents as a Seer. Unfortunately, much like its predecessor, this outing is plagued by heavy-handed Christian overtones that exclude nonbelievers and an indecisive heroine whose declarations of love for her suitors change with the wind, making it hard to put any stock in her feelings for either. Though the power of the love triangle suffers as a result of Nikki’s waffling, at least by the novel’s end her true identity is revealed, and readers will at long last understand what Damon Vessler and his army of Darklings have in store.
Fans of the series will likely be entertained, but those who disliked Halflings (2012) shouldn’t seek redemption here. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-310-72821-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Zondervan
Review Posted Online: Aug. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012
Share your opinion of this book
More by Heather Burch
BOOK REVIEW
by Tahereh Mafi ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2021
A simply real story, devoid of clichés, that will leave an indelible mark.
Shadi’s life is slowly falling apart: Her best friend, Zahra, doesn’t talk to her anymore, and her parents are dealing with grief and depression in the aftermath of her brother Mehdi’s sudden death.
It’s 2003, and all of this is compounded by the hatred Shadi receives every day at school for being Iranian American and a hijabi. The lack of support leaves Shadi struggling to keep afloat. She’s behind in her classes and exhausted because she often stays up at night listening to her mother’s agonizing despair over losing Mehdi. Her father, once a healthy, fit man, recently had a second heart attack, and Shadi’s sister, Shayda, has taken over running the house. Everyone is so mired in their own trauma and pain that Shadi, the youngest, often finds herself forgotten, both literally and figuratively. The expectation of keeping one’s home life private and of separating the political from the personal are themes throughout the book. Woven through this story of trauma and resilience is a soft romance between Shadi and Zahra’s brother, Ali. Mafi confronts issues of mental health, suicidality, racism, and self-love in ways that will leave readers reacting viscerally and powerfully. Reading this novel is like being dropped straight into the everyday lives of a Muslim family in post–9/11 America.
A simply real story, devoid of clichés, that will leave an indelible mark. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-297241-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More by Tahereh Mafi
BOOK REVIEW
by Tahereh Mafi
BOOK REVIEW
by Tahereh Mafi
BOOK REVIEW
by Tahereh Mafi
More About This Book
PERSPECTIVES
PROFILES
by Sabina Khan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 29, 2019
A coming-out story featuring diverse characters and a richly rendered international setting.
Bangladeshi-American Rukhsana Ali must choose between her family’s wishes and following her heart.
Although her Muslim immigrant parents approve of her professional dreams of becoming a physicist at NASA, Rukhsana is sure that they won’t be as enthusiastic about her personal dream of spending her life with her secret girlfriend, Ariana, who is white. After winning a prestigious scholarship to Caltech, her professional ambitions seem within reach—until her mother catches her kissing Ariana and she is whisked away to Bangladesh with plans to arrange her marriage. As she battles her parents’ homophobia, Rukhsana simultaneously struggles to help Ariana and her friends back home in Seattle understand the weight of the cultural and social stigmas that she has to fight. Along the way, Rukhsana finds unexpected allies, including her grandmother, who encourages her to fight for what she wants. This witty coming-out story is populated by colorful, nuanced personalities who never lapse into stereotypes. Unfortunately, the fast pace leaves readers little time to digest the most intense moments, including some physical and sexual violence. Likewise, the sheer amount of action leaves certain characters, like Rukhsana’s spoiled but loving brother, insufficient time to fully develop. However, the story is told tenderly and unflinchingly, balancing the horrors of homophobia against the South Asian men and women who risk their lives to fight it each and every day.
A coming-out story featuring diverse characters and a richly rendered international setting. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-22701-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More by Sabina Khan
BOOK REVIEW
by Sabina Khan
BOOK REVIEW
by Sabina Khan
BOOK REVIEW
by Sabina Khan
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
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.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.