A well-told story of devastating loss and forbidden love.
Bailey offers a YA fantasy novel set in a world of clashing destinies and deep-seated prejudice.
Élan is an 18-year-old burdened by his dual heritage—half Eldridge, half Castalian—which makes him an outcast in his own society, as he may have frightening magical powers as a result. His life is shattered when he witnesses the brutal murder of his parents by the evil Satyr forces. Afterward, he’s grudgingly taken in by his uncle, the DragonLord Leavenstar—an act that’s portrayed as a near-refusal. Élan’s existence, in fact, is marked by constant fear and rejection, which has the effect of fueling his desires for revenge against the Satyr Nations of the Phar Empire.The pair’s relationship is a complex one, as Leavenstar’s internal conflicts about raising Élan clash with the young man’s search for understanding and acceptance. The journey upon which they embark is fraught with peril, including encounters with birdlike creatures called grypis and the looming threat of the Satyr invasion. Adding to Élan’s turmoil is his forbidden love for the king’s niece, which only adds to his emotional burdens. As his Eldridge/Castalian powers awaken, he finds a crucial ally in a dragon, Moonshadow. His journey becomes a battle to prove his worth, forcing him to question his own agency. Over the course of this fantasy tale, Bailey masterfully creates a world where political intrigue, racial tensions, and personal struggles intertwine. The narrative is rich in detail, painting a vivid picture of the world’s creatures, cultures, and landscapes: “The binary Suns were setting as man and beast walked out into the green-tinged and fading light of the early evening and emerged onto a wide ledge set into a cliff face overlooking the foaming waves of the sea thousands of feet below.” Bailey never shies away from exploring the darker aspects of his characters’ natures, including prejudice, hatred, and abuse of power. Élan’s journey is effectively shown to be a dangerous one, not only due to external threats but also internal conflicts, as he tries to find a place in a world that won’t accept his existence.
A well-told story of devastating loss and forbidden love.Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781038311061
Page Count: 372
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.
Two teens train to be society-sanctioned killers in an otherwise immortal world.
On post-mortal Earth, humans live long (if not particularly passionate) lives without fear of disease, aging, or accidents. Operating independently of the governing AI (called the Thunderhead since it evolved from the cloud), scythes rely on 10 commandments, quotas, and their own moral codes to glean the population. After challenging Hon. Scythe Faraday, 16-year-olds Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova reluctantly become his apprentices. Subjected to killcraft training, exposed to numerous executions, and discouraged from becoming allies or lovers, the two find themselves engaged in a fatal competition but equally determined to fight corruption and cruelty. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. Scythes’ journal entries accompany Rowan’s and Citra’s dual and dueling narratives, revealing both personal struggles and societal problems. The futuristic post–2042 MidMerican world is both dystopia and utopia, free of fear, unexpected death, and blatant racism—multiracial main characters discuss their diverse ethnic percentages rather than purity—but also lacking creativity, emotion, and purpose. Elegant and elegiac, brooding but imbued with gallows humor, Shusterman’s dark tale thrusts realistic, likable teens into a surreal situation and raises deep philosophic questions.
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
