A promising series opener with an unexpected ending that will leave readers wanting more.
In a fantasy version of 19th-century Germany, a daughter tries to make amends for her mother’s past mistake.
Agnes Heinrich once promised friendship to her neighbor Mathilda, a rumored witch, in exchange for a fertility tonic. Fearful of community backlash, Agnes’ husband, Oskar, convinced Agnes to drop her end of the bargain and ignore Mathilda’s attempts to reach out. Years later, despite moving away, the Heinrichs suffer the consequence of Agnes’ broken promise. For every two fortuitous events that occur in the family, a tragedy is sure to follow. Sixteen-year-old Elva Heinrich discovers her mother’s old letters from Mathilda and decides to ask for Mathilda’s help to break the family curse. Elva has another reason to seek out their former neighbor: When Elva gazes at her own reflection, she catches a glimpse of events past and future. Her parents urge her to keep this ability hidden, but Elva believes that with Mathilda’s help, she can master her power. Elva’s receptive attitude toward magic sets her apart from the townsfolk, whose superstitious fears are the main source of conflict. Their cruel gossip and prejudice serve to highlight the book’s themes of trust and self-acceptance. Allusions to classic fairy tales and the folklore research of the Grimm Brothers add a touch of familiarity to the fictional setting. Characters are cued as White.
A promising series opener with an unexpected ending that will leave readers wanting more. (Historical fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-04638-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
© 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.
