A lovely story fit for a mythical queen.
History and magic intertwine in this fantasy retelling of ancient Celtic mythology.
As the voiceless, unloved younger daughter of Eire’s Dagda, Neve Anann Eriu holds no true power despite her eagerness and ambition. But the tragic death of her older sister, the crown princess, sees Neve on the path to the kingdom’s throne. It’s a path filled with magic, treason, and unexpected alliances. Ronan is a former Druid apprentice–turned-thief whose life is transformed after an unexpected encounter with Neve, a princess whose blood shines with the forbidden magic they seem, impossibly, to share. At a time when magic is outlawed and performed only by power-hungry Druids, Neve and Ronan find themselves on a collision course that could unite the land they both love. The myths of prehistorical Ireland come to life in this slow-moving dual-perspective fantasy novel inspired by ancient legends. It’s a story filled to the brim with sorcery and treason and with a pinch of romance. It also reflects on social divides and injustices between the outcast ancient peoples of Eire and the invading usurpers. Lengthy expository sections bog down parts of the novel but not enough to mar Neve’s ongoing story of growing into her power through her believable fighting skills, smart diplomacy, and outmaneuvering of those who underestimate her.
A lovely story fit for a mythical queen. (the Folk of Eire) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-63893-018-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Zando
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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