A steady stream of mystery and action make for a compelling YA fantasy that will keep readers guessing.
A teenager and his friends must once again confront an evil djinn in the hope of getting rid of it for good in Sullivan’s YA fantasy novel, one in a series.
This sequel to From Brick & Darkness (2022) finds high school sophomore Baxter (Bax) attempting to resume normal life after banishing the evil djinn Ifrit back into his box. No one will be truly safe, however, until they bury it once and for all. But when Bax and his friends Jason and Ashley attempt to do just that, they discover to their horror that the box has been stolen. Now, someone else has released Ifrit back into the world, and the trio—alongside the friendly (and lifesaving) djinn Janni—must race to discover who. Meanwhile, Bax is still grappling with the vivid nightmares plaguing his sleep and attempting to avoid vasovagal syncope episodes that cause him to spontaneously lose consciousness. While the friends attempt to hone in on Ifrit’s new master, the evil djinn himself makes an unwanted appearance (“Smoke pumped in rapid bursts from his wet nostrils, forming a gray cloud”) that unwittingly leads the group to conclude that the person who released Ifrit may be closer to Bax than he realizes…and doesn’t necessarily want to hurt Bax. The bigger question now becomes, what do they want? Readers who missed Bax’s initial adventures are quickly and naturally brought up to speed. Sullivan’s smooth dialogue and expert pacing propel the story forward without feeling rushed. While there is some harsh language, the violence is never gratuitous. Bax is a surprisingly emotionally mature protagonist, attending therapy and learning to come to terms with harsh emotional truths (although those truths are sometimes a bit trite: “I couldn’t change the past, but I could change the future.”) Sullivan has crafted a compelling story that effortlessly juggles themes of growing up and battling demons—both inner and outer.
A steady stream of mystery and action make for a compelling YA fantasy that will keep readers guessing.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 9781509260454
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love.
The lives of two Los Angeles girls inhabiting different universes intersect, proving that love knows no bounds.
Brenda Nguyen has a 19-step plan to save the world. Kat Woo is haunted by her legacy as the chosen one, a role she has no interest in. Brenda, working on an environmental science college scholarship application, stumbles into Sammy’s Coffee and Pick-Me-Ups, which Kat’s family owns. As the girls get to know each other, Brenda at last finds someone who’ll listen to her detailed plans, while Kat discovers she has something to look forward to. The girls, who alternate narrating the story, must defy the odds as their worlds begin to collide. As well as being a love story, this is an exploration of familial expectations: Kat is trying to outrun them, while Brenda is driven to fulfill hers. The girls, who are of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, respectively, complement each other: Brenda learns to live in the present, and Kat begins to look to the future. While there are pixie swarms and mana surges, the action takes a back seat to characterization. Lee’s fully developed parallel worlds are alike in many ways, although in Kat’s, you can buy teleportation spells at Target. The cast is rounded out by solid portrayals of the girls’ friends and family, who are important to the plot.
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love. (author’s note, recommended reading) (Fantasy romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250778024
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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