A superlative middle volume, adding depth and scope without sacrificing clarity or theme.
The sequel to The Good Hawk (2020) sends characters both familiar and new into the wider world surrounding its fantasy version of medieval Skye.
Agatha and Jaime have returned triumphantly after rescuing their clan from slavery. But their enclave is still held by enemies, and those in their current refuge want them gone. After Agatha accidentally unleashes the deadly sgàilean, Jaime is sent back to Scotia to seek magical assistance while Agatha defiantly warns a rival clan. Meanwhile, young Sigrid is sold to the cruel Norvegian monarch who is busy scheming with the eldritch Inglish king. All three suspenseful plotlines are deftly interwoven, giving each alternating narrator a distinctive voice: fierce, proud, impatient Agatha, with her disabilities that cause some to treat her cruelly and her uncanny rapport with animals; careful, depressed Jaime, prone to both panic attacks and reluctant flashes of bravery; and earthy, brash Sigrid, gifted with an eidetic memory and unexpected compassion. Major and minor characters alike are fully rounded; Jaime in particular struggles with his newfound fascination for dark magic and a same-sex attraction that is not accepted in his culture. The worldbuilding is rich, integrating various magical systems into the landscapes and cultures of diverse countries and clans. The narrative gallops along, with hefty doses of humor, tenderness, and violence, until the storylines meet on a final page that will leave readers desperate for more.
A superlative middle volume, adding depth and scope without sacrificing clarity or theme. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0748-4
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Walker US/Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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