A sometimes-familiar, sometimes-inventive start to an electric new fantasy series.
An English teen learns of an ancient war between supernatural sects in Davey’s debut YA fantasy, the first in a series.
Over 5,000 years ago in Anatolia, a village was visited by a group of tall, perfectly symmetrical warriors. They soon won the trust of the villagers by helping them drive off their enemies and sharing their remarkable crafting skills. The local shaman, however, was suspicious of these Irin, as the warriors called themselves. With the help of his apprentice, he proved that the strangers were not what they seemed. A conflict soon erupted between the villagers and their new enemy. The villagers won a Pyrrhic victory, but not before the Irin left a lasting legacy gestating in the wombs of many of the village’s women. In 2012 London, high school student Jake O’Callan is enjoying hanging out with his nerdy best friend, Donovan, and popular cousin Maddie as well as new friends (and troublemakers) Jason and Rhys. Even so, Jake’s nights are marred by strange dreams involving battles with angels. Meanwhile, across town, the wealthy Lord Calvin conducts dangerous experiments, attempting to communicate with powerful beings in another dimension known as the Void. Calvin aspires to someday join the ranks of “the Master Race”: the Irin. When a hit-and-run driver kills Jason in a way that doesn’t seem accidental, Jake finds himself pulled into a secret war that has apparently been going on since the days of the Irin and the shamans—one that has shaped human history. Jake, it turns out, shares blood ties with both sides of the conflict, which ensures he faces dangers everywhere. With the help of his surviving friends and an ancient Egyptian priest, a 6-year-old witch, and a neural implant, will Jake be able to save the world—and himself?
The universe Davey creates is vast in both space and time, weaving together multiple mythological traditions. The writing navigates various registers—from solemn to campy to cheeky—with aplomb. Here, Jake’s mother, Taine, explains the bestselling figurines in her occult shop: “Cute fairies for the kids, gothic or romantic ones for the adults….All sorts, really. We reckon it’s a hangover from The Lord of the Rings. I think people are buying them because they don’t buy religious figurines anymore.” The book is at its best when dealing with Jake and his friends, who, unlike their counterparts in many YA fantasies, actually come across as real teenagers. Some of the other elements tread a bit more into the stereotypical: Lord Calvin’s villainy is fully cartoonish at times. The basic premise is familiar, but the intricate in-world mythology, with its shades of H.P. Lovecraft and Philip Pullman, is compelling enough that the reader wants to see the knot untangled. This book seems mostly a setup for future volumes, but Davey will likely recruit some eager fans with it.
A sometimes-familiar, sometimes-inventive start to an electric new fantasy series.Pub Date: July 9, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-83859-451-0
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Matador
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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