A tale that skillfully blends aspects of Greek and Egyptian myths with modern family drama.
New mythologies emerge in Borja’s extravagant YA fantasy sequel, featuring fresh character lore and prophetic dreams.
One year following the disappearance of the Mirror Realm in the series opener, The Last Huntress (2022), 19-year-old Hadley Caldwell, one of four young huntresses chosen by the demigoddess Philautia to guard humanity from demons, receives a strange message from the remaining gods, who’ve been hijacking her dreams: She must find the Portal of Osiris, so that the gods may have new lives in the mortal world. Hadley and the other huntresses—Alice, Olivia, and Soxie—embark on a new journey to retrieve the Portal without using their previous connection to Philautia’s Realm. Also, Hadley receives an unwelcome message from her father: Her estranged brother, Caleb, has been sentenced to jail after years of running the family’s illegal chop shop. This unexpected mix of fantasy, family drama, and friendship comes together almost seamlessly. Borja offers vivid depictions of dusty Arizona and bustling Cairo, where the girls investigate the Egyptian god Osiris and his connection to Hades, the Underworld, and the Mirror Realm. The novel’s dream sequences are a significant highlight, providing character development and narrative cohesion; they include Hadley’s worst memories of her brother and grandfather, as well as delightful and haunting portrayals of well-known Greek deities, including Poseidon in a snorkel and flippers calling forth a sea monster and Hermes as a United Parcel Service delivery man. Additional storylines carry over from the previous novel, including the questionable origins of Alice’s soul and the trials of her relationship with David, a protector of huntresses; however, these aren’t as appealing as Hadley’s relationships with Caleb and her family, or the sisterly bond between the four huntresses.
A tale that skillfully blends aspects of Greek and Egyptian myths with modern family drama.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781684632602
Page Count: 344
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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