An ambitious and immersive coming-of-age survival tale.
In Guard’s YA fantasy novel, a teenager marked by an ancient prophecy must survive war, captivity, and the wilderness.
Nin is a fierce and resourceful girl whose people are slaughtered by Gore and his men; he’s a brutal warlord who senses something dangerous in the pale markings that are etched across her skin. She’s dragged into captivity and branded a threat, and although she endures loss, isolation, and relentless brutality, she refuses to break. Her connection to the feared Dagger Mouth Demons, and particularly a shadowy beast whom she names Shadow, begins to unlock a deeper truth: She’s tied to an ancient prophecy that speaks of “the Ruler with the skin of shadows” who “will bow to none.” Guard’s world is richly imagined and vividly rendered, with atmospheric detail in every snowy forest, war camp, and mythical confrontation. The book’s emotional power lies in Nin’s unwavering spirit; her trauma is not softened but fully realized, making her transformation into a leader feel earned. Her bond with animals—especially the wolflike Shadow and a rescued dire wolf cub is tender and symbolic, reinforcing themes of loyalty, instinct, and kinship across species: “Perhaps this was how true bonds formed - not through blood or tribe, but through mercy in darkness.” As she forms a pack and finds unexpected allies, her journey builds to legendary proportions, culminating in scenes of visceral battle, moral reckoning, and quiet resilience. The prose is lyrical yet muscular, alternating between action-driven sequences and introspective passages. Some exposition-heavy moments and abrupt perspective shifts may challenge some readers, and the cast is vast, with side players and subplots that sometimes overwhelm the main arc. Still, for readers drawn to survival epics with emotional depth and mythic stakes, this story will resonate. Overall, Guard writes with cinematic scope and emotional sensitivity, offering a hero whose scars become symbols of power.
An ambitious and immersive coming-of-age survival tale.Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2025
ISBN: 9798302045782
Page Count: 393
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
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 delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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.
