A popcorn read that fans of the first will eat up.
After The Babysitters Coven (2019), Esme and Cassandra must host a Summit of demon-fighting Sitters.
Given only three days’ notice for planning and prep to host the Sitters and the Synod for the Summit (a once-in-a-decade conference), Esme and Cassandra have other worries. Cassandra’s having episodes where she disconnects from reality (causing Esme to worry she’s been cursed like Esme’s mother) while Esme’s dad is acting strangely—extra-stressed and less responsible than usual. The Summit brings new struggles, as all of the other Sitters started training earlier and know each other from Sitter gatherings; there’s an uncomfortable gulf between them and the local duo. Delightful chaos blooms as the Summit goes on, from inexplicable demonic activity outside the hotel (which yields fun action scenes, though the town’s mild reaction undercuts its impact) to unintentional Summit gate-crashing by both Janis and Pig (and everything that goes wrong while hiding them). Though the storylines themselves tend to be easily guessed (and with stakes that could use a little more clarification), the jokes and clever banter land easily (barring the occasional too-dated reference), and the story maintains an easy, breezy clip. The expanded cast adds further racial and sexual-orientation diversity (joining Black non-Sitter Janis and Esme and Cassandra, described in the previous title as White and Mexican, respectively) and expands the mythos before leaving teases for the next book.
A popcorn read that fans of the first will eat up. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-70741-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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