A fabulous series opener combining true thrills and deep relationships.
The epic journey of a foundling girl in pursuit of glory and immortality.
After the population of her entire village is killed when she is a child, Reed is rescued by two members of the legendary Order of the Aristene. Creatures of legend, the Aristene are female warriors in service to the goddess of glory, tasked to guide heroes to victory, whatever it takes. Brought up in their Citadel and expected to become one of them, Reed, now 16, and her initiate friends are about to start their Hero’s Trials. Should they succeed, they will become fully fledged Aristene, immortal and nearly impossible to defeat in battle. But if she fails to guide her first hero—Hestion, a prince from a country on the cusp of a world-changing war—to glory, Reed will have to leave the community. As Reed grows closer to Hestion, she comes to fully grasp the sacrifices required to achieve what she always thought she wanted. The novel features enthralling worldbuilding and a nail-biting character arc that genuinely surprises with its twists and turns. Its highlights are the strength of the female friendships, the bonds between the Aristene, and the ties formed between the Aristene and their heroes. Explorations of tragedy, myth, and the power of agency versus fate enrich the story. Reed has dark hair and tan skin; in this fantasy world there is a diverse range of skin tones.
A fabulous series opener combining true thrills and deep relationships. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780062977205
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
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