Readers looking for a fast-paced spy novel might be disappointed by the sometimes-slow pacing, but those seeking period...
This Regency-era romance set in 1814 England features students who attend Stranje House, an establishment for girls with unusual talents.
Whether it is Tess with her prophetic visions, Georgie with her aptitude for math and science, or Sera and her perfect recall, all the young ladies receive instruction that prepares them less for a life of high society and more for a life of espionage. Their skills and training are sorely needed in war-torn Europe. But even with her focus on saving the world, Tess still has plenty of time to think about the handsome and interminably frustrating Lord Ravencross. Unfortunately even with her visions, Tess cannot predict how they will ever be able to defeat the evil Lady Daneska, who seems determined to bring only pain and misery to the residents of Stranje House. The richly detailed setting and intriguing alternate history are well-crafted, but the characters are what stand out. Narrator Tess is headstrong, melodramatic, and awkward, but she is also brave, bright, and completely real. Such secondary characters as Indian Maya and Chinese Madame Cho provide some diversity.
Readers looking for a fast-paced spy novel might be disappointed by the sometimes-slow pacing, but those seeking period romance with a twist need look no further. (Paranormal historical romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 24, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7653-7602-2
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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