A compelling, imaginative story about the transformative power of love.
Mayo offers a glimpse into a fictional world in which avian society governs all aspects of the afterlife.
Spizella Andromeda Pusilla Rochelle, known as “Spiz” to her friends, is a sparrow whose species is tasked with the conveyance of souls who haven’t yet crossed over to the world beyond. When Spiz is assigned to retrieve the soul of William Eduardo Compostela Estes, a philosophy professor who died in pursuit of his daughter’s killer, Spiz finds herself emotionally connected to him, to her surprise. Empathizing with William’s desire to avenge his child, yet fearing for the fate of his soul should he succeed, she allows him to remain in the mortal realm and even assumes a human form to assist him. But her growing, mutual love for William has a price, marking her as an enemy of her own avian society and ultimately drawing her into a war between free and enslaved birds. Meanwhile, with every passing moment in the mortal realm, William’s soul grows weaker and threatens to fade away for good. When Spiz is presented with a magical path that could prolong William’s soul-life by giving him part of her own, she faces an impossible decision: protect the person she loves and confine him to her world or risk losing her connection with him to the ravages of time. Mayo’s work is full of heart, and readers will quickly find themselves immersed in its vivid, magical landscape. It also has some clever details, such as the aviaries’ use of famous fast-food arches as the passage between two worlds “because they [are] plentiful.” However, it’s not the differences between the realms of the living world and the avian-centered afterlife but the similarities between them that will resonate with readers. Love, pride, courage, and unity reverberate throughout both worlds, positing that humans aren’t so different from their animal, or even otherworldly, brethren. The tale ends with an inspiring revelation about the future of one of its endearing characters that will leave readers eager for the next installment in the Hidden Aviaries series.
A compelling, imaginative story about the transformative power of love.Pub Date: April 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73-689941-0
Page Count: 292
Publisher: Elwin Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.
In the final book of Corland’s dark fantasy trilogy, a ragtag band works together to liberate a colony and dethrone tyrants.
A group of spies, thieves, and murderers, united by a common goal of ending the treacherous rule of King Joon of Yusan, regroup after a bloody battle claims the life of one of their own—the banished Yusanian prince, Euyn. However, there’s little time for Mikail, Aeri, Sora, and Royo to mourn. Bounty hunters and assassins are after them, in part because they now possess three of five legendary Relics of the Dragon Lord. Mikail, who’s just found out that he’s the last surviving member of a royal family, wields the Water Scepter of Wei, while Aeri, King Joon’s daughter, holds the Sands of Tim and the Golden Ring of Khitan. The remaining relics—the Flaming Sword of Gaya and the Immortal Crown—remain with King Joon, who’s desperate to have all five to wield a great deal more power. Meanwhile, the cruel Count Seok, who once indentured Sora, has usurped the throne of Yusan. The group has two goals: overthrow the king and liberate the Yusanian colony of Gaya—Mikail’s homeland—so that it can again be a thriving, independent realm. The relics are powerful tools in combat, but using them is adversely affecting Aeri and Mikail’s health. They need allies, but trusting strangers is a dangerous gamble. Corland’s final book in her Broken Blades trilogy is a relentlessly thrilling and action-packed dark fantasy featuring memorable characters, intense battle scenes, romance, and a satisfying conclusion. Alternately narrated by Aeri, Mikail, Sora, Royo, and their long-lost friend, Tiyung, readers benefit from watching the story unfold through the perspectives of each compelling, well-drawn character. The author’s passion for the fantasy genre shines through in the novel’s richly detailed worldbuilding, including vivid descriptions of landscapes and palace layouts, as well as its exploration of magic. Readers will also delight in the sardonic humor sprinkled throughout, as when Mikahil narrates, “Rune thinks he fathered Seok’s son. Truly, the nobility of Yusan has too much time on their hands.”
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781649379153
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Read this for the action-packed plot, not character development or worldbuilding.
On the orders of her mother, a woman goes to dragon-riding school.
Even though her mother is a general in Navarre’s army, 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail was raised by her father to follow his path as a scribe. After his death, though, Violet's mother shocks her by forcing her to enter the elite and deadly dragon rider academy at Basgiath War College. Most students die at the War College: during training sessions, at the hands of their classmates, or by the very dragons they hope to one day be paired with. From Day One, Violet is targeted by her classmates, some because they hate her mother, others because they think she’s too physically frail to succeed. She must survive a daily gauntlet of physical challenges and the deadly attacks of classmates, which she does with the help of secret knowledge handed down by her two older siblings, who'd been students there before her. Violet is at the mercy of the plot rather than being in charge of it, hurtling through one obstacle after another. As a result, the story is action-packed and fast-paced, but Violet is a strange mix of pure competence and total passivity, always managing to come out on the winning side. The book is categorized as romantasy, with Violet pulled between the comforting love she feels from her childhood best friend, Dain Aetos, and the incendiary attraction she feels for family enemy Xaden Riorson. However, the way Dain constantly undermines Violet's abilities and his lack of character development make this an unconvincing storyline. The plots and subplots aren’t well-integrated, with the first half purely focused on Violet’s training, followed by a brief detour for romance, and then a final focus on outside threats.
Read this for the action-packed plot, not character development or worldbuilding.Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374042
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Red Tower
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
© Copyright 2025 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.
