A deeply imaginative but disjointed adventure story that feels too much like an extended prologue.
A young boy uncovers strange secrets about his family and a massive conflict a world away in Loveridge’s debut YA SF novel.
Ever since the sudden death of his sister Mariam, Liam Fennly has been plagued by strange nightmares and escalating harassment from his neighbors, the cruel Farnsworth brothers. However, on the eve of his 12th birthday, Liam receives a clue that his sister’s death is not quite what it seems, and neither is the newly opened Alfred Quentin Elementary. Quentin, thought to be dead since 1927, suddenly arrives to induct Liam into the Foundation Program, the first step of a mysterious birthright. It turns out that the Fennlys, along with many other families, are the latest generation of a prehistoric colony of time refugees. While fleeing an enemy called the Rashaar, they stumbled upon a portal connecting them to the present day, and ever since, they’ve raised their children in the safety of the modern world before revealing their true nature to them. Now Liam must learn to control the colonists’ superadvanced technology, how to wrangle a pet dinosaur, and keep all of this a secret from his friends and neighbors—while also avoiding his bullies at school. He also wonders: Who exactly are the Rashaar and why are his parents so worried about them? And what really happened to Mariam? Loveridge’s introductory novel to his series of time-traveling adventures has no shortage of creativity, as it brims with near-magical tech, supernatural elements, and a sprawling alternate version of Earth’s history. The quality of the writing is solid and allows readers to empathize with the characters, who are often likable. However, the book’s weak link is its pacing, as the plot meanders and the author obfuscates much of the basic premise of the tale for far too long. Liam’s struggle with bullies also feels disconnected from the rest of his journey, making it feel more like a tangent than a narrative throughline. In the end, the novel seems to defer major elements of its story for future installments, resulting in an overall lack of cohesion.
A deeply imaginative but disjointed adventure story that feels too much like an extended prologue.Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73555-724-3
Page Count: 308
Publisher: Glass Spider Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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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