Unlikely to win new fans, but returning readers will find elements to appreciate.
In this sequel to A Ruinous Fate (2023), members of the ensemble cast fight for their goals despite setbacks and danger.
Trapped in the Neverending Forest, Calla, Gideon, Caspian, and Hannah are struggling after the death of Onyx Prince Ezra, Gideon’s younger brother, and the kidnapping of the siren Delphine. Even as they attempt to escape the forest, bring Ezra back to life, and rescue Delphine, the war looms ever closer. Meanwhile, Delphine, who was horrifically tortured by Reniel (the sadistic former leader of her Shoal) as punishment for leaving him, plots her escape by feigning submission and remorse. Lastly, the Valkyrie Amina, having stolen Ezra’s heart, is finally free of the forest, and she flies home to exact her revenge against the Valkyrie queen, only to discover that society and her friends have changed. Despite intriguing mini-quests and plot developments, the pacing drags, and the rotating points of view lessen the tension, although the inclusion of Gideon’s and Delphine’s viewpoints does add welcome depth to the relationships. Delphine’s flashbacks and self-analysis, in particular, are empathetic, even though the torture scenes become repetitive. The depictions of corrupting power and societal inequities and control are intriguing but limited by centering on the seemingly one-dimensional antagonists. The strong, well-depicted focus on friendship and love is uplifting and provides a thematic thread despite the diluting rotating narration. The cast contains fantasy diversity.
Unlikely to win new fans, but returning readers will find elements to appreciate. (map, character glossary) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781368081634
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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