A winning combination of high stakes, sacrifice and heroism.
The eventful conclusion to the Atlanteans series.
Jumping right into the action three days after the events of The Dark Shore (2013), the narration gives a minimal recap of the complicated events and large cast. Owen and Lilly, newly revealed to be the Medium of the Three Atlantean descendants prophesied to save the world, desperately race on to beat villainous Paul to both the Paintbrush of the Gods (a powerful tool that can restore the failing climate and rapidly dying planet) and the Terra (a personified spirit of the Earth). However, the Terra has a message for Owen: The prophecy of the Three’s a lie, and they will fail. Owen must discover what that means and why he can communicate with the Terra even though he isn’t the Medium. On the action-packed journey, he encounters a strange ally who enables an extended flashback to the original Atlantean Three in the days leading up to their disaster and the history of the Paintbrush of the Gods—the sequence takes readers away from the main plot for a long time, and much of it reads like an infodump, but it’s necessary information containing surprising revelations. A thematic buildup leads to a choice between saving the world and saving personal love—the execution’s surprising, believable and refreshingly true to the characters. The ending more than satisfies without being too tidy.
A winning combination of high stakes, sacrifice and heroism. (Science fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-06-206286-4
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
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
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself.
In this debut by YouTuber Impicciche, a young siren princess is faced with a mission she cannot refuse.
Celeste’s mother, Queen Halia, has always considered her to be too emotional—like the irrational humans. In order to prove herself, Celeste has spent several cycles, the sirens’ unit of time, training to become a member of the Chorus, a militarized unit that patrols the seas. Before her final test, Celeste comes across an attractive human prince, Raiden, whose father is King Leonidas—her mother’s sworn enemy. She ends up saving Raiden’s life, but when her mother learns of her transgression, she offers Celeste the chance to go on a mission that requires her to become human and avoid being executed for treason. The narrative, which initially is strongly reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid,” has some slower moments and repetitive elements that are offset by witty commentary that helps engage readers. The opening drags, but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Impicciche does a good job of creating a detailed world of siren customs and traditions. Her characters exhibit emotional depth, conveying what it feels like to be lost and betrayed. Sirens have skin of varying colors, including blue, purple, and green; Celeste’s skin is “soft peach.” Raiden presents white, and there’s racial diversity among other humans.
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9798212980906
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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