This colorful SF tale boasts exhilarating tension and superb worldbuilding.
A psychic-powered group protecting a city in the late 23rd century faces off against villainous counterparts in this SF sequel.
Jet Stroud is more than just a pair of glowing turquoise eyes. He belongs to the ancient race of the Heliographi—physically enhanced people who possess psychic abilities as well. In this series’ opening installment, The Prism Affect (2021), Jet joined the Lucem, Heliographi who defend the citizens of Skylight City in the Skylight System. This system, hovering in Earth’s atmosphere, comprises nine belts surrounding a core and is also home to the Lucem’s sworn enemy, the Atrum. These sinister Heliographi undoubtedly have something evil in the works, as lately they’ve been aiding marauders hijacking ships and stealing rare-earth supplies. But that’s not all. Jet gets wind of an assassination plot against him (“He had been threatened so many times throughout his life that he was somewhat used to it. But this was different…much different, and he didn’t mean to take it lightly. He had some big decisions to make on what to do”). Many believe Jet is the Skylight Fallout, a prophesied figure whose death will reveal the location of the reputedly powerful “Heliographi Memoirs.” The Atrum’s scheme seems to revolve around the impending Century Eclipse, giving the Lucem little time to stop their foes before innocent citizens (and Jet) perish. Wint outfits this brisk sequel with plenty of suspense. The story, for example, opens with an iffy truce between the Lucem and the untrustworthy Atrum while an anonymous baddie called “The Backer" plans Jet’s assassination. Readers just joining the series may initially feel lost, but it’s not long before the narrative individually distinguishes the hefty cast of characters, including the aliases that Lucem sometimes “wear” (complete with different names and physical traits). But the real star is the Skylight System. Citizens must fly aircraft from belt to belt or even down to Earth. The intriguing outermost belt is primarily floating debris, courtesy of a meteorite storm 100 years ago. Despite an energetic, surprising final act that spirals into an unexpected but welcome resolution, there’s an unmistakable setup for a third installment.
This colorful SF tale boasts exhilarating tension and superb worldbuilding.Pub Date: April 23, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73630-292-7
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A spectacular return to a magical world.
Following the events of Impossible Creatures (2024), a devoted Guardian teams up with a brave princess to fight her power-hungry uncle and save the Archipelago’s dragons from a strange new threat.
Jacques the dragon summons Christopher Forrester back to the Archipelago from the human world: Dragons are dying, and no one knows why. Meanwhile, on the island of Dousha, Princess Anya’s grandfather, King Halam, has been murdered, and her father accused—though she knows he’s innocent. When Christopher and Anya take refuge on the islet of Glimt, the Berserker Nighthand helps them see how their twin missions to save the dragons and free Anya’s father are connected. They work together to create an antidote for the poison that’s killing the dragons and to keep Anya and her father safe from her murderous uncle. Meanwhile, Nighthand and Irian, the part-nereid ocean scholar, pursue their own important secret mission. Divided into three parts—“Castle,” “Dragons,” and “Revenge”—and containing elements of fairy tales, fantasy, and Shakespeare, this story continues the storyline established in the series opener, yet because it introduces new characters and obstacles, it could also stand alone. Dark-blond Anya (“five feet tall and all of it claws”) is a match for white-presenting Christopher, who, though he still misses Mal, finds that “it made a difference to have someone to move through the world with again. A friend changed the feel of the universe.” Mackenzie’s delicate, otherworldly art adorns the text.
A spectacular return to a magical world. (map, bestiary) (Fantasy. 10-15)Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9780593809907
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
PROFILES
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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