An almost-successful rehab-in-space story that falls victim to thematic overstuffing.
Is it a quest to save the remains of the human race or a cruel deception?
Seventeen-year-old Conway is the most promising Hydroseeker Recruit of his generation. He loves riding his moto-rover incredibly fast across the Martian terrain, training to find water for what remains of humanity. It’s been 130 years since some humans came to Mars from the Arid Planet on the Tsimmaon (which originally provided interstellar tours for the wealthy), abandoning everyone else to die. Now pale, blond Conway competes for one of the few prestigious Seeker spots. But on their first mission to the Arid Planet, everything Conway believes is disproved. The Arid Planet has trees, safe water—and people. If only it hadn’t taken a terrible bike accident, which leaves him with a grievous spinal cord injury, for him to learn about this miracle. His people leave him behind, so now Conway’s a prisoner of the locals, who call their planet Mayanah. Their leader, Selah, a gorgeous, brown-skinned girl with piercing blue eyes (that are repeatedly mentioned), forces Conway to do his physical therapy instead of allowing him to be self-pitying about his paraplegia. There’s a lot going on here: an injury and disability rehabilitation storyline, a post-apocalyptic setting with a grim view of sexuality and gender, a fun space adventure, and an overarching Christian allegory. The surprise introduction of spiritual magic is disruptive; the science fiction and the parable never fully synthesize.
An almost-successful rehab-in-space story that falls victim to thematic overstuffing. (author's note) (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9781454957959
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
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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