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
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
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