A balanced, suspenseful novel for passionate gamers that offers a critique of human violence.
A dystopian world intertwined with contemporary gaming references offers a framework for exploring ethical questions.
For 13 years, Halley has been a non-player character in a video game, serving lemonade in a village that serves the Mercenaries, or Mercs. Every day the Mercs kill guards and find ways to move up through the different floors of a house. A concurrent storyline unfolding outside of the world of the game follows Roscoe, a graphic designer who’s currently working as a beta tester for Warsafe, a major video game studio in Seattle. She joins forces with Andy, a 23-year-old radio astronomer, after learning a shocking secret. The relationships that develop among the characters take center stage in this suspenseful, well-paced narrative. Action-packed chapters fulfill readers’ expectations of a gaming-based novel with an interesting premise that requires some suspension of disbelief. The chapters rotate among several characters’ points of view, delving into their distaste for the utilitarian ethics that permeate their worlds. Through one character’s arc, Smyth introduces a moral framework that examines religious faith, which the narrative addresses in implicit and explicit ways. Amid the corporate espionage and manipulation, the book critiques violent video games, real-world conflicts, experimentation without fully informed consent, and human rights violations. The characters largely present white, although some are inspired by Japanese gaming culture and aesthetics.
A balanced, suspenseful novel for passionate gamers that offers a critique of human violence. (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9798886051988
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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 fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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