A well-crafted, engaging tale that advances a promising fantasy series.
This fantasy sequel introduces higher stakes, bloodier encounters, and a prophecy to end all prophecies.
Marcus Adicio—alongside his best friend and journey recorder, Ash, and his retinue—is back in Baiseen, dealing with the aftermath of a battle there and trying to rebuild the realm. On the world of Amassia, Marcus is a “savant,” who can raise a “phantom” of his subconscious self. He is no longer the heir to the Throne of Baiseen, having lost it to his nonsavant brother, Petén. Ash, a nonsavant, is still recovering from a mysterious illness that has left her with severe gaps in her memory and unable to listen to her inner voice (or to communicate mentally with her beloved, sailor Kaylin). When the second sun rises on the horizon, the group knows it heralds the next Great Dying, which, according to a prophecy, means that the end of the world is approaching. When the prognosticating “Bone Thrower” consults the bones for the next steps to take, he names Marcus the Bone Gatherer. The soothsayer sends Marcus and his friends on a quest all over Amassia to gather the original 12 whistle bones from their sanctuaries and rebuild the “crown of bones,” as “whoever holds the crown, holds the future of all the realms in their hands.” Their journey is one of danger, with enemies tracking them, betrayal lurking around every corner, and unexpected allies rising from the deep sea. And as Marcus continues to struggle with his phantom De’ral’s unruly ways and Kaylin keeps his own secrets under lock and key, Ash learns more about who she really is—and what her rightful place is in the grand scheme of things. This sequel builds on a solid foundation to develop its engrossing, twisty story even further, with a plethora of intriguing characters sharing the narrator role. Wilder’s worldbuilding is full of dense and complex lore, and as the characters learn more about their histories, politics, and magic, important questions are raised; compelling subplots surface; and the tale feels richer. The volume is full of surprises, romance, and adventure, building to a bombastic cliffhanger that beautifully sets the stage for the next entry and avoids sequel pitfalls.
A well-crafted, engaging tale that advances a promising fantasy series.Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64937-108-9
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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