This folktale fantasy will not disappoint.
When danger lurks from beyond the grave, supporting characters find themselves in the limelight in this enthralling sequel to Wicked Fox (2019).
Half-human/half-gumiho (Korean fox demon) Miyoung recently lost her mother, Yena. But lately Yena has been haunting her dreams, cryptically speaking of the threat of a powerful enemy and lamenting that she did not adequately prepare her daughter. Meanwhile Miyoung’s reluctant goblin ally, Junu, gets a visitor of his own. Hyuk, who is a reaper, speaks of a mysterious connection between the worlds of the living and the dead—a tear that allows ghosts and malevolent spirits to visit Earth. He hints that the tear is possibly related to Miyoung and the soul bead she lost. Junu is given seven days to fix things and restore balance before the reaper does. The familiar crew—Miyoung, Jihoon, Junu, and Somin—plot to retrieve the soul bead, but this time it is Junu and tough-girl Somin who take the lead. The quickly evolving narrative engages the characters in battles against supernatural beings as well as confrontations with ghosts of their pasts, both literal and figurative. Once again Cho artfully balances Korean-inspired folktales, K-drama motifs, emotionally complex characters, and unpredictable plot twists. Readers should begin with the first installment to fully appreciate this entry.
This folktale fantasy will not disappoint. (glossary, notes) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-984812-37-7
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
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
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
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