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A KINGDOM FOR A STAGE

From the Shadow Players series , Vol. 2

Not as vivid or fast-paced as the first installment, but the cliffhanger finale may leave fans eager for more.

Jetta Chantray plunges deeper into the battle for Chakrana in the sequel to For a Muse of Fire (2018).

Jetta has destroyed an Aquitan prison, rescued her father, and brought her brother back from the dead. Now both rebels and Aquitans know her secrets: She can ensoul objects with her blood, and her biological father is the feared necromancer Le Trépas. Captured once more by the armée, Jetta agrees to cooperate in exchange for an elixir that treats her malheur. When the general uses Jetta’s blood to animate his own warbirds, she escapes, aided by Leo, the general’s Chakran half brother and Jetta’s love interest—but the rebels’ leader insists on bringing along Le Trépas. The group embarks on a long journey toward the rebel camp, punctuated by fiery encounters with avions. While the stakes mount, intrarebel intrigue and various romantic subplots muddy the waters. Action often takes a back seat to Jetta’s fears that her growing mastery of blood magic and her malheur, without treatment, will make her as monstrous as Le Trépas. Some readers may relate to aspects of Jetta’s bipolar disorder and appreciate mention of a ruler who has successfully managed his illness; others may be troubled by repeated references to madness and insanity. Chakrans have dark hair and eyes while pale Aquitans are blond and blue-eyed.

Not as vivid or fast-paced as the first installment, but the cliffhanger finale may leave fans eager for more. (cast of characters, author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-06-265197-6

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2019

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POWERLESS

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

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

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IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

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