by Helena Coggan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 2017
Poor pacing and flawed logic lead to a disappointing sequel
In a post–magical-apocalypse London, a teenage soldier with a secret monster-transformation problem hopes she can rescue her father without incriminating herself.
At the end of The Catalyst (2016), Rose’s father, David, escaped from the authorities in disguise. In the intervening six months, he has for some reason turned himself in to the authorities, where he’ll be tried as an illegal Hybrid monster. It’s been 20 years since the Veilbreak divided all humans into the magically Gifted and the nonmagical Ashkind. The vanishingly rare Hybrids, who transform into monsters for one day every six weeks, violate the law simply by existing. Rose (who, like almost all of the characters, is white) stands by her father as he prepares for his trial, all while trying to hide the truth: she is also a Hybrid. Until recently, David had been the head of an exceedingly powerful secret-police/domestic-spying organization. Now, the fallout from his arrest and the revelation of his secrets have embroiled Rose in politics, for which she has no patience. Rose’s adventure is broken up by brief scenes from David’s youth, which move backward through time to slowly reveal the mystery of both his origins and hers. David’s story comes at a compelling pace, though the climactic action sequence of Rose’s narrative makes no logical sense. An exciting setup plods into a disappointing denouement featuring too many events and revelations; while each would be satisfying on its own, here they dribble out as from a leaky tap.
Poor pacing and flawed logic lead to a disappointing sequel . (Fantasy. 13-15)Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8973-5
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2017
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by Pearl North ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2010
Taking up where Libyrinth (2009) left off, the spotlight of this sequel falls on Po and his difficulty adapting to the new culture rising from the life-changing Redemption. Po comes from a female-dominant culture: He’s hostile to men, protective of women and naïve about the motives and manipulations of others. After one transgression too many, he joins a quest searching for an artifact that will restore ecological balance to the deteriorating environment. While its predecessor examined religious/political belief systems, this volume explores differences among the various groups’ gender and sexual mores. Po becomes sexually active and makes dangerous mistakes before changing (quite realistically) his point of view and behavior. Sympathy for Po will carry readers until the excitement and suspense of the quest take over. Themes of abuse of authority, the nature of prejudice and the power of the written word remain from the first book—but with tricky and interesting twists. Background information is skillfully integrated into the plot in this clever, thought-provoking book that has appeal for fans of serious science fiction and fantasy. (Science fiction. 13-15)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7653-2097-1
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2010
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by Pearl North
by Maurice Gee ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2011
The Salt trilogy closes with a third generation of children fighting petty but dangerous evils. Hana, a girl from the city's wretched Bawdhouse Burrow, is orphaned when her mother is burned as a witch. Ben grows up far from the city, raised by his grandparents Pearl and Hari in the idyllic village from Gool (2010). When Hana flees the city, she brings with her a terrifying message for those outside its darkness: The Limping Man is coming. He has the terrible power to make people love him even as he torments them, and he plans to wipe out all who stand against him. Since most of the outsiders—Ben's family, the forest Dwellers and "the people without a name"—have mental powers, the Limping Man intends to massacre them. Ben and Hana, along with their allies, must find the Limping Man's secret in order to save their own lives and homes. Ben and Hana’s victories, like those of their parents and grandparents, are local. Even if they do defeat the Limping Man, they cannot vanquish evil from the world; life in the burrows will likely continue to be nasty, brutish and short. The heroes' personalities are defined by their harsh environments, but they reach beyond those limitations. Fantasy heroes who can save only themselves and their loved ones are a welcome change from the usual. (Fantasy. 13-15)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-55469-216-3
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2011
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by Maurice Gee
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by Maurice Gee
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by Maurice Gee
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