An engaging Christian fantasy.
Five young trainees must fight evil creatures to protect their land and people.
The Keledan live behind a barrier created by the Rescuer, protecting them from the dark creatures and oppression that live in Tanelethar, the Dragon Lands. The Lightraider Order went beyond the barrier to save others but disappeared generations ago. One day, Connor Enarian, a shepherd boy and grandson of a Lightraider, receives an invitation to attend and revive Lightraider Academy along with four other young hopefuls. They train, learn, and strengthen their faith for weeks, preparing to defeat the goblins and orcs sneaking into Keledan. Following the Rescuer’s will, they embark on a journey to stop an impending invasion. Once on the other side of the barrier, Connor realizes they must trust not only the Rescuer, but also a Lightraider spy, a talking silver wolf, and a young Tanelethar woman who might betray them all. Connor and his friends must lean on their faith in the Rescuer and follow his will or meet their demise. Inspired by the Christian fantasy role-playing game DragonRaid, the moral and religious teachings in the book are clear. With the initial focus on worldbuilding, the start of the book is a bit slow, but once readers get a handle on the names and terminology, they will find this an exciting, action-filled read. Connor and other main characters present White; Connor’s friend Lee Trang is cued as Asian, and some secondary characters are Black.
An engaging Christian fantasy. (map, author's note) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-62184-195-1
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2021
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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
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