A dense duology closer that should satisfy returning fans.
Shaw, Rosamund, and friends finish senior year at Witch Hall while fighting internal and external enemies in a prophesied war.
After a surprise attack on the Cursed Kingdom, Shaw, the future Witch Queen, must prepare for war with Vinland, the nonmagical empire that’s threatening to obliterate their world. Unfortunately, she’ll have to do it without Rosamund as a familiar and partner, which she finds more devastating than she’d expected. Recognizing her responsibility to the people of her kingdom, Shaw trains with elders—including her father, the Witch King—for the coming war until they discover that the ideological divide between their generations might be too great. Without abandoning the romantic core of the first book, this conclusion dives into military strategy, political lore, and the world’s hierarchies. The analogies to contemporary politics and generational tensions are subtle yet clear, and there’s a focus on peace, inclusivity, and responsibility over power. Despite these strengths, the large swath of characters and their powers becomes confusing, and readers may need to refer to the earlier volume to refresh their memories. The in-depth explanations of military tactics slow the pace, and the tension feels one-note until the end. Despite being so drawn out, the novel wraps up in a satisfactory way. Skye creates a world in which queer sexualities, including polyamory, are a given. The leads present white, and names and physical descriptions cue diversity in the supporting cast.
A dense duology closer that should satisfy returning fans. (content warning) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9781250872616
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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
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