Character growth is at the forefront of this engrossing tale of discovery.
A young woman in hiding is thrust into adventure in Storms’ YA fantasy novel.
Marit is the product of an “Unsanctioned” marriage in the fantasy realm of Aktaria. Her parents keep her hidden during the day, and she works on their farm at night; it’s their way of protecting her from being seized by the Aktarian Guard as an Unsanctioned person. This danger doesn’t stop Marit from slipping out during the day with her best friend, Torin. She pays for this bit of fun when she opens the door only to find the AG there to arrest her. Sold as chattel, Marit is fortunate to be bought by Naomi, who needs a maid for her new household. Naomi will be paired with Greyson Kencharo and feels she must part ways with her current maid (and lover) Mylene. But things don’t work out for the new couple: A bomb is thrown into the back room to which they’d been sent during their joining ceremony. Naomi is badly injured and sends Greyson, Mylene, Marit, and Torin on the run. They join up with Emily, who is Mysticborn, part of a group from whom Marit and Greyson seek to learn more about how their nascent magical powers work. (“Notgifted. Mysticborn. It’s the Aktarians who insist on making what’s natural seem like it’s not,” sniffs Emily.) Storms forces her characters to mature quickly. Marit is the ultimate outsider as a homebound fugitive; her fog-farmer friend Torin isn’t any more tied into what’s happening in the Heart of Aktaria. Mylene’s world begins and ends with Naomi. Naomi and Greyson aren’t party to governmental machinations either, despite being members of the upper class—all will have to learn on the fly if they’re to stay alive. Having the point of view alternate among Marit, Torin, Greyson, and Mylene is an effective storytelling technique as they all offer very distinct perspectives. Storms’ well-paced narrative feels considerably shorter than the 325 pages it fills. Winning characters and a well-constructed backdrop make for a riveting journey to a satisfying resolution.
Character growth is at the forefront of this engrossing tale of discovery.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-7328492-8-0
Page Count: 332
Publisher: Rainestorms Press
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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 sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener.
Teens from different social spheres collaborate, investigating magical mysteries while navigating their shared attraction.
When 18-year-old Wren Hayes doesn’t receive a magical gift from the three Fates—Dawn, Day, and Dusk—she’s shunned by Aurilian high society. Unbeknownst to Wren, 19-year-old Damien, a thief from the Void (a part of the city she’s forbidden to visit) has taken the locket that should have been her gift from the Fates. He’s shocked to discover a photo of himself inside. Using his own Fates’ gift—a mirror with powers of invisibility—Damien infiltrates a party and steals a silver watch from a guest. But his gift isn’t fully functioning, and Wren tackles him, sending them both tumbling into the mud. They tussle and exchange flirty barbs before Damien makes off with his prize, losing Wren’s locket in the process. Unsure why someone from the Void would possess such a gift and determined to uncover why hers was “unjustly kept” from her, Wren tracks down Damien. Seeking answers of his own, he agrees to work with her. Their well-crafted dance of desire and restraint is on point (“She stifled a stunned noise as I placed a menacing kiss—a mere graze of my lips—on the back of her hand”), melding seamlessly with the plot. The story addresses sexism, privilege, and wealth while hurtling the characters into a whirlwind of action and disturbing revelations. Wren presents white, and Damien has tanned skin.
A sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener. (map) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9798217117215
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
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