Thrilling, sweet, and so much fun.
After Princess Alyannu ji Helnassa and goatherd Trill Tenuto cross paths, neither the girls nor their kingdom of Capeya will ever be the same.
Following an attack while she was traveling with her mother, Alya discovers that she’s been placed under a curse: At sunrise, she turns into a black goat, and at sundown, she returns to her human body. Alya is drugged and abducted but manages to escape from her captors. By good fortune, Trill’s magic power is the ability to communicate with goats. Alya, in her goat form, hides from her assailants among Trill’s herd. The girls get off to a rocky start—sheltered Alya has some high-handed ways that make Trill bristle—but ultimately, Trill agrees to help the princess. The girls must move quickly, however: Aunt-U, a friend of Trill’s mother whom they seek out for help, informs them that if they don’t destroy the talisman used to place the curse within a month, Alya will remain a goat forever. This fantasy story reads like a classic fairy tale and explores themes of trust in oneself and greater awareness of others. The friendship and love that blossom between Alya and Trill feel natural and endearing. The cartoonlike illustrations employ warm colors that match the tone of the story. Wheeler’s worldbuilding emerges organically from interactions between the characters, sustaining a fast pace and avoiding lengthy explanations. Alya has tan skin, and Trill has medium-brown skin.
Thrilling, sweet, and so much fun. (map, bonus content) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
ISBN: 9781637158050
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.
In Florence’s middle-grade fantasy novel, a young girl’s heart is tested in the face of an evil, spreading Darkness.
Eleven-year-old Lydia, “freckle-cheeked and round-eyed, with hair the color of pine bark and fair skin,” is struggling with the knowledge that she has reached the age to apprentice as an herbalist. Lydia is reluctant to leave her beloved, magical Mulberry Glen and her cozy Housetree in the woods—she’ll miss Garder, the Glen’s respected philosopher; her fairy guardian Pit; her human friend Livy; and even the mischievous part-elf, part-imp, part-human twins Zale and Zamilla. But the twins go missing after hearing of a soul-sapping Darkness that has swallowed a forest and is creeping into minds and engulfing entire towns. They have secretly left to find a rare fruit that, it is said, will stop the Darkness if thrown into the heart of the mountain that rises out of the lethal forest. Lydia follows, determined to find the twins before they, too, fall victim to the Darkness. During her journey, accompanied by new friends, she gradually realizes that she herself has a dangerous role to play in the quest to stop the Darkness. In this well-crafted fantasy, Florence skillfully equates the physical manifestation of Darkness with the feelings of insecurity and powerlessness that Lydia first struggles with when thinking of leaving the Glen. Such negative thoughts grow more intrusive the closer she and her friends come to the Darkness—and to Lydia’s ultimate, powerfully rendered test of character, which leads to a satisfyingly realistic, not quite happily-ever-after ending. Highlights include a delightfully haunting, reality-shifting library and a deft sprinkling of Latin throughout the text; Pit’s pet name for Lydia is mea flosculus (“my little flower”). Fine-lined ink drawings introducing each chapter add a pleasing visual element to this well-grounded fairy tale.
An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781956393095
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Waxwing Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Thrilling and filled with twists; will leave readers eager for the next adventure.
In this follow-up to Isle of Ever (2025), 12-year-old Everly “Benny” Benedict plunges deeper into a world of mystery, hidden clues, and pirate lore.
Benny continues to unravel the puzzle-filled legacy of her ancestor, Evelyn Terry. Although she believes she’s cracked Evelyn’s will, her triumph is short-lived. Upon arriving at the elusive island linked to the Blood Orange Moon, Benny and her friends must break a centuries-old curse by tracking down missing pirate treasure—the only thing that can save both her friends and the inheritance. The novel’s standout feature is its deft use of dual timelines, which take place in 1825 and 2025 and are interwoven with journal entries, notes, and newspaper clippings that add clues and visual texture. The narrative shifts between the enigmatic island and present-day Greenport, where Benny races against time. If she fails, the Isle of Ever will vanish for 200 years and possibly fall into someone else’s hands, making for high stakes that heighten the tension. Benny remains a compelling protagonist, facing betrayal, forming new alliances, and uncovering long-buried family secrets. The mysterious pirate Grace adds a dynamic layer of conflict as she pursues the treasure, becoming both a threat and a catalyst for intense confrontations. Fast-paced and full of peril, this sequel offers answers while opening the door to new mysteries.
Thrilling and filled with twists; will leave readers eager for the next adventure. (map) (Fantasy adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781728277066
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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