A quietly thoughtful and romantic bildungsroman.
A jilted teenager must face the unintended consequences of a curse in Sensel’s YA historical fantasy novel.
In Amity, Ohio, in 1909, 17-year-old aspiring actor Gethsemane “Geth” Jones was supposed to marry Will Cogglesmith, but he broke off the engagement at the last minute. On the day of the proposed wedding, she wakes up before dawn, sneaks out to the local cemetery, and curses the young man who broke off their engagement: “May the unfaithful wretch who sullied this day find disaster before the week’s out. Make his bed crawl with bugs, bring shame to his name, and, and...let his underwear itch.” Geth is more humiliated than heartbroken—it was never a love match—and the curse is just a childish ditty, although it makes her feel better. But after the sentient spirit of Wind hears the curse and acts on it, it expects swift payment: Specifically, it wishes to make Geth its bride. Now she must not only live with the shame of her actions, but also the unthinkable prospect of becoming the Wind’s wife. Outsmarting the spirit will take a cunning plan and the help of steadfast allies that include her best friend, Sarah Brannon, and her old school friend Aaron Holmes, the gravedigger’s son. Above all, Geth will need to reassess who she is and what she really wants. Overall, this is an atmospheric, richly developed, and ultimately romantic read that’s full of surprises. No character is who they seem to be at first, and Geth’s coming-of-age arc offers a story of feminist empowerment and rebellion against familial and societal expectations. Geth yearns to act, and, as such, the tale’s purposeful focus on the power of words and storytelling is fitting and poignant. The protagonist’s relationships with family members, friends, and the Wind give the work a strong narrative structure, and over this framework, Sensel’s gorgeous prose takes flight: “Under the costume of good girl, good daughter, she yearned to be fearless, uncommon, and yes, dramatic. To reach for her desires instead of dreaming, and to win praise for originality, not compliance.”
A quietly thoughtful and romantic bildungsroman.Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4282-5
Page Count: 290
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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
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