Slow but relentless, tensely atmospheric.
Temple helper Seyo aspires to become a priestess though she believes her soul is stained.
In a nation of lightbearers, Seyo is immune to fire, “an unholy ability no amount of confessions could cover.” Flouting temple rules can lead nowhere good; her highborn friends can’t protect her. But even cautious Seyo never imagined that entering the Heart, the forbidden network of caves beneath Laijon, would unearth an ancient lie that could bring about the end of her world. The narration is the story’s weakest element, often jumping around, with context given too late, although the plot unwinds at an engaging pace once it finds its feet. Seyo is a detached narrator: retiring and passive, though remarkably resourceful when her increasingly dire circumstances demand it. She constantly waffles, often to the detriment of others and herself, which may frustrate some readers although it’s refreshing to see a protagonist who is allowed to fail due to consistently developed flaws. The supporting characters are more dynamic, gradually revealing the depths of their inner lives through the limited lens of Seyo’s perspective. The worldbuilding is strong, and the mythology, politics, history, and geography of the world are richly developed. The nations of this world—Laijon, Ai’Biro, Pirthyia, Nazak, and Vedoa—are distinct in culture, and their citizens are diverse in physical appearance. Unfortunately, some of the racial descriptions and vocabulary used are problematic.
Slow but relentless, tensely atmospheric. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9798886050660
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
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