An intriguing, surprise-filled journey of family conflict, competition, and secrets.
A contentious group enters a high-stakes competition for a magical inheritance in Cavalancia’s debut.
Before 16-year-old Mullory Prudence’s mother burned their house down, leaving Mullory and Gran alone and destitute in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, she gave her daughter a warning: “Run if the strange finds you.” Mullory has tried to do just that, but she’s unable to ignore a barrage of letters from mysterious recluse Xavier Stoutmire. She agrees to compete for a sizable inheritance of $2.5 billion—and “the entirety of his magic.” The other young competitors include five of Xavier’s great-nieces and great-nephews, and Mateo Maldonado, who, like Mullory, isn’t a family member. They’re all brought together at Stoutmire Estate in the Hamptons, where the will and conditions are read. Having already been warned of his own murder by Cousin Cecilia, Xavier has decreed that his lucky heir will be determined through a game of Mystery Royale, in which participants must solve the crime. Over the course of nine days, the contestants attend five parties during which they seek the clues that will help them win before the time is up. The most delicious intrigue, however, is uncovering the deep-seated emotional baggage that lies behind the individual competitors’ drive to succeed. A surprising and somewhat open-ended conclusion sets the story up nicely for a potential sequel. Main characters are cued white.
An intriguing, surprise-filled journey of family conflict, competition, and secrets. (family tree) (Mystery. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781368099080
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
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
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love.
The lives of two Los Angeles girls inhabiting different universes intersect, proving that love knows no bounds.
Brenda Nguyen has a 19-step plan to save the world. Kat Woo is haunted by her legacy as the chosen one, a role she has no interest in. Brenda, working on an environmental science college scholarship application, stumbles into Sammy’s Coffee and Pick-Me-Ups, which Kat’s family owns. As the girls get to know each other, Brenda at last finds someone who’ll listen to her detailed plans, while Kat discovers she has something to look forward to. The girls, who alternate narrating the story, must defy the odds as their worlds begin to collide. As well as being a love story, this is an exploration of familial expectations: Kat is trying to outrun them, while Brenda is driven to fulfill hers. The girls, who are of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, respectively, complement each other: Brenda learns to live in the present, and Kat begins to look to the future. While there are pixie swarms and mana surges, the action takes a back seat to characterization. Lee’s fully developed parallel worlds are alike in many ways, although in Kat’s, you can buy teleportation spells at Target. The cast is rounded out by solid portrayals of the girls’ friends and family, who are important to the plot.
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love. (author’s note, recommended reading) (Fantasy romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250778024
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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