A hoot of an adventure.
When people battle one another, it summons magic, and the power is trapped by the Weavers—but 18-year-old librarian-in-training Charlie prefers to avoid conflict.
Charlie’s teal hair, the result of a fight gone wrong, is a constant reminder of why. But everything changes when she’s reclaimed by her birth father, the King’s Blade, from her humble life as a carpenter’s daughter. She’s whisked off to the royal court, where the sheltered Prince Leopold develops a crush on her. Trouble is, he’s already betrothed to someone else—but he’s too naïve to realize he might start a war if he doesn’t honor the marriage contract. Resourceful Charlie goes to rescue Leopold’s fiancée, physically strong, pink-haired Princess Robin, from a tower, but it turns out that Robin’s witch-queen mother only put her there for tradition’s sake. Robin’s mother gives the three young people a quest: Discover the source of magic. Two talking animal companions—a vulture and a dragon—round out their party. The medievalesque setting feels original while evoking classic genre elements, and readers will appreciate the plentiful humor, crackling dialogue, and budding romance. This series opener leaves open elements in the narrative to be explored in subsequent entries. Presser’s paneling work is inventive, and the characters’ faces and body language are highly expressive, although the visual style is inconsistent. Charlie’s mother has dark brown skin, and her father reads white; her skin tone is medium brown. Robin and Leopold present white.
A hoot of an adventure. (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781524896423
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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
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