Melds science fiction and fantasy elements into a delightful blend.
A story that reaches from the stars to the depths of the planet Dohrsar.
After Crown Prince Soahm, Sonara’s older brother, is abducted in front of her, their mother, Queen Iridis of Soreia, who holds her responsible for his presumed death, kills her. Through the power of the Shadowblood, Sonara receives a second chance at life that is granted to some of the Dohrsaran, and as the Devil of the Deadlands, she creates a new existence but never stops hoping to solve the mystery of her brother’s fate. On the edge of the Milky Way, low-status smugglers Karr and his brother, Cade, are on their last job. They’re headed toward Dohrsar on an assignment from a wealthy man—one of the few human survivors of the Reaper’s Disease who is now living on Beta Earth—to pick up a rock that will revolutionize science. Immense power is hidden in the heart of the planet, but which faction will get to it first? The humanoid alien Dohrsaran live in a world of magic and mystery. The novel’s pacing is excellent, jumping among the perspectives of Sonara, Cade, and Karr, with each character having their own problems and histories; readers are dropped into the action, and past intrigues, as with Sonara’s love life, are filled in. Characters are racially indeterminate.
Melds science fiction and fantasy elements into a delightful blend. (pronunciation guide, author interview) (Speculative fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: May 17, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-00-829279-9
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Harper360
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
A refreshing fantasy for readers looking for more friendship and adventure, less romance.
From orphan to assassin-in-training to...savior of the kingdom?
Sirscha is focused on becoming the next queen’s Shadow. Training for the past four years, she has endured grueling trials and humiliations to prove herself among the elite. Less than a month from graduation, however, she intercepts a message that sets off a chain of events that derails her plans. Set on an unexpected path, Sirscha discovers new abilities and finds kinship with the persecuted shamanborn, those with elemental magic whom she once would have hunted down. If she can maintain some control, her powers may be able to help heal the rot in the kingdom, but Sirscha will ultimately question her loyalty to her queen and country. While the story skirts the “orphans of mysterious origins” trope, Sirscha’s path to discovery and acceptance is thoughtful and heartfelt. It is also refreshing to see a character too busy kicking butt to stop for romance. This is not an Asian fantasy per se but a fantastical adventure with some Asian touches, indicated through descriptions of landscape and food. Characters are described with a range of skin tones from deep bronze to gray. Also, it is implied that same-sex marriage is accepted as a given.
A refreshing fantasy for readers looking for more friendship and adventure, less romance. (glossary) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 23, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62414-9245
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Raw, delicate, and deeply caring.
When Death-Cast doesn’t call, fate intertwines the lives of two boys, both haunted by their pasts and with futures they can’t escape.
In this third installment of the series that opened with 2017’s They Both Die at the End, Paz Dario waits every night for Death-Cast to call—as it should have for his father nearly 10 years ago, when Paz shot him to save his mother’s life. But the call never comes. Death-Cast killed Paz’s dreams of an acting career: No one will hire him now because the world sees him as a villain. When Paz tries (not for the first time) to put an end to his suffering, an unexpected encounter with Alano Rosa, the heir of Death-Cast, stops him. Both in a place of desperation, Alano and Paz sign a contract to live for Begin Days instead of waiting for their End Days. As suspenseful and emotionally wrenching as the previous titles in the series, this new installment explores heavy themes of abuse, mental health, self-harm, and suicide. Paz grapples with a recent diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Silvera surrounds Alano and Paz with a web of complex relationships. Although the protagonists fall fast for one another and form a deep connection over Alano’s desire to support Paz, Silvera emphasizes the importance of professional help. Both Alano and Paz have Puerto Rican heritage. The cliffhanger ending promises more to come.
Raw, delicate, and deeply caring. (content warning, resources) (Speculative fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780063240858
Page Count: 720
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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