A queer, introspective retelling.
A character-driven reimagining of Peter Pan.
Braiding together three narrative strands—then, now, and excerpts from Neverland: A History—this melancholy tale explores the ill-fated love of immortal fairy Tinker Bell. In the past plotline, Tink and Peter meet the Darling family in upstate New York, and both fall for Wendy, the eldest sibling. Peter ages when he’s away from Neverland, so Tink is determined to bring him back even as their lives become increasingly entwined with the Darlings’ the longer they stay. Forty years later, Tink lives alone in the Darlings’ cottage until Hope, Wendy’s granddaughter, appears. Tink opens up to Hope and shares her story of love, loss, grief, and responsibility. Lyrical prose evokes a traditional fairy-tale feeling, but this new spin, although inspired by a magical adventure story, focuses more specifically on its primary characters and their emotions. There is some worldbuilding around Neverland and references to characters from Peter Pan lore, but they mostly feel like unnecessary filler and bog down the already unhurried pace. The story succeeds as a character study of Tink: Falling for capable, mature Wendy opens her eyes to Peter’s flaws. Later, she grapples with her culpability in what went wrong while living the lonely life she feels she deserves. Often realistically sorrowful, there is hope at the end. Characters are implied White.
A queer, introspective retelling. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 26, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-953103-13-0
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Three Rooms Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2021
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 delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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