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 worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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