A fairly standard fantasy tale featuring grapes and wrath.
Two reluctant leaders rise to power.
Prince Alac is the heir’s spare, more interested in wine than in his Thungrave ancestors’ usurpation of the Perin Faye throne and seizure of dark magic from the Dallowyn dynasty. Annoyed by his brother Cannon’s wedding festivities, he unexpectedly falls for Maralyn Keele, a newcomer to the court. But Maralyn is actually Maralyth Graylaern, a commoner raised by her vintner father and mysterious mother who is gifted with magic powers she must conceal. Stolen by the manipulative Lord Nelgareth and backed as a true Dallowyn heir, Maralyth must make it through courtly parties and a vicious coup if she wants to be queen. The protagonists’ transformations from reluctant royals to contestants for the throne parallel their evolving relationship and are more richly written than the thin plot and thinner worldbuilding. The reasons for the rebellion are unsatisfyingly vague, attributed to alleged tyranny and a century-old coup, while the magic central to the plot feels omnipresent yet ill-explained. Genericness abounds, with a vaguely Northern European setting, a typically tumultuous feudal system, and a default-White cast of characters. The attentive focus on wine, while delightfully detailed, may miss the mark with underage readers who likely do not know their cabernet from their chardonnay, yet the triteness of the plot—lost heir overthrows bad king, restores good magic—may not impress more experienced audiences.
A fairly standard fantasy tale featuring grapes and wrath. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-29882-9
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Tor Teen
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself.
In this debut by YouTuber Impicciche, a young siren princess is faced with a mission she cannot refuse.
Celeste’s mother, Queen Halia, has always considered her to be too emotional—like the irrational humans. In order to prove herself, Celeste has spent several cycles, the sirens’ unit of time, training to become a member of the Chorus, a militarized unit that patrols the seas. Before her final test, Celeste comes across an attractive human prince, Raiden, whose father is King Leonidas—her mother’s sworn enemy. She ends up saving Raiden’s life, but when her mother learns of her transgression, she offers Celeste the chance to go on a mission that requires her to become human and avoid being executed for treason. The narrative, which initially is strongly reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid,” has some slower moments and repetitive elements that are offset by witty commentary that helps engage readers. The opening drags, but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Impicciche does a good job of creating a detailed world of siren customs and traditions. Her characters exhibit emotional depth, conveying what it feels like to be lost and betrayed. Sirens have skin of varying colors, including blue, purple, and green; Celeste’s skin is “soft peach.” Raiden presents white, and there’s racial diversity among other humans.
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9798212980906
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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