An ambitious but clunky fantasy epic.
An empire devolves into a war of succession in Khan’s debut fantasy novel.
The Emperor of Kristianborg has been assassinated in his own bed. There will be few tears shed for the tyrannical Severus Valentinian, but even so, his death sends ripples of anxiety throughout the realm. It seems that Severus never named an heir before his death, and now his four sons—each the child of a different consort in the Imperial Harem—are all vying for the throne. There’s the gluttonous, well-connected Commodus; the handsome, cultured Leo; the politically savvy Andronikos; and the bookish but determined Zeno. Each of them has a wily mother’s guidance behind the scenes. Zeno’s mother, Eleonora, is particularly ambitious, having lifted herself from the minor ranks of nobility with the single-minded desire to bring glory to her line. The would-be heirs will have to win the favor not only of Council or Archons, but also of the powerful Yeneceri—the slave army known as the deadliest fighters in the land. Meanwhile, outside the borders of the empire, the Kingdom of the Vampir is stirring, waiting to bring Kristianborg under the shadow of its blood-drinking faith. Do Zeno and his mother have what it takes to outmaneuver the others in time to protect the empire from a horde of vampires? Khan’s pulpy prose creates some fun and thrilling moments, as here where the Vampirs send their undead cavalry against the Kristianborg army: “Their cloaks swayed in the wind, and their faces could not be recognized by even those with the best eyesight. It appeared as if they were faceless warriors with the skeletal outline of bones evident through their cloaks, and they wielded terrifying weapons.” The character development is shallow, however, and the world is hastily drawn. The novel features a grab-bag of distracting references to history and other works, such as characters named Harald Hadrada and Vercingetorix, and a dynasty called Van Helsing. Khan is clearly going for a Game of Thrones-esque epic, but this is a pale, wooden reflection.
An ambitious but clunky fantasy epic.Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781039179042
Page Count: 258
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Oct. 23, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.
With only a month left until the world ends due to a swiftly approaching black hole, Don and Rodney, a retired gay couple, road-trip from Maine to Washington to spend their final days with their son.
After reports that a planet-swallowing black hole is making its way toward Earth, Rodney and Don—who have been together for 40 years and survived everything from homophobia to the HIV crisis—decide to pack their belongings into an RV, say goodbye to their neighbors, and travel from Camden, Maine, to Washington to uphold a promise to spend their final days with their son. They can’t wait any longer, since there’s already chaos around the country: “Military vehicles in the streets of most cities and towns. Looting, rioting, the burning of cars and buildings and people, all of it had already happened.” As they make their way west across the country, they encounter fellow travelers ranging from close-knit families to free-spirited hippies, some of whom have come to terms with the impending end of the world and others who haven’t. While the story seems to be asking readers what they would do if they had 30 days left to live, and reflects on what different kinds of acceptance might look like in the face of unavoidable tragedy, it loses some of its poignancy in a series of thinly padded monologues about the meaning of life. Clearly intended to pack an emotional punch, it’s failed by an abrupt ending, and the way the journey’s mystery—which will be obvious to many readers—is revealed by an info dump in the last chapter.
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781250881236
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.
In Green’s inspirational novel, a journalist boarding the wrong train discovers the right moment to speak the words that matter.
Daniel arrives at the Beacon station carrying a leather notebook filled with an unfinished eulogy for his still-living grandfather, only to be swept onto the mysterious 5:07 Gratitude Express, a steam locomotive that appears “for those who want to express gratitude.” His uncanny journey sends him through vividly rendered moments from his own life, where he witnesses the ripple effects of kindnesses he has offered and reunites—sometimes for the first time—with people who were permanently shaped by those actions. Each stop brings a new encounter: A childhood classmate says, “That morning, you altered the course of my life”; an elderly woman confesses, “Your simple act of kindness saved me that day”; a mentor tells him, “You need to figure out what you’re good at and what you like to do. Because when you do that, your potential is limitless.” By the time Daniel reaches Cedarville, intent on seeing his grandfather—the person who most profoundly shaped him—his reflections echo the conductor’s warning that “Time is unpredictable, and unsaid words bring pain and regret.” What follows is a moving affirmation of connection that honors the story’s central message: Appreciation should be expressed to the living. Green structures the narrative as a fable, with emotional clarity and cinematic pacing. The train’s dissolving walls, the recurring whistle rising “high into the dark sky,” and the symbolic briefcase filled with long-kept letters lend the tale a gentle magical-realist texture. While the storyline remains linear and accessible for all ages, the themes—regret, legacy, and intergenerational love—invite adult reflection. The prose is simple, intentionally so, grounding the fantastical elements in an earnest emotional register. This is not a plot-twist-driven story; it’s a quiet parable urging readers to act before time steals their chances. Readers who appreciate heartfelt, uplifting narrative journeys will find resonance in Green’s message.
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9798891385252
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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