by Lindsay Flanagan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2023
A tale with deft plot turns, a relatable young protagonist, and well-drawn secondary fantasy characters.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
In Flanagan’s YA series starter, a young teen enters a fantastical realm and discovers the mystery behind her own existence.
All 14-year-old AnnaGrey England wants is to get through a school day without being bullied for being different. It isn’t because of her red hair and “pale-as-dawn” skin—it’s her glow-in-the-dark green eyes with black pupils shaped like half-moons. Her mother’s explanation that it’s a genetic condition rings false, and her father, who lives elsewhere, tells AnnaGrey what seem like fairy tales. (At least her parents’ unusually long canine teeth skipped a generation, she thinks.) In this thoroughly enjoyable, well-crafted, first-person fantasy, AnnaGrey’s journey toward self-discovery and self-acceptance begins after her nemesis, a boy named Cross Silverstone, dubs her “Freakenstein.” After she retreats into the forbidden Wildwood, she discovers Iris—a gentle, horselike creature with a rainbow mane, golden hooves, impressive antlers, and eyes like stars—and a secret gate to a realm of beings called aeobanachs who can shift between human and animal form. AnnaGrey soon finds herself in the company of a furred, feathered, and antlered rebel faction seeking to unseat the usurper on the realm’s Constellation throne. Can this have anything to do with her own strange eyes, her secretive parents, and the “constellation” of freckles on her arms? Just when it seems obvious where the narrative is going, the author defies expectations by taking readers in a different direction. Flanagan enriches the mix with additional colorful characters and a plot that explains the significance of antlers, feathers, and fairy tales and features betrayals, lost loves, and noble sacrifices. (The selfless actions of two characters are genuinely moving, as is a surprising act of faith taken by AnnaGrey’s only school friend.) AnnaGrey’s internal struggle with new truths feels authentic, as does her difficulty in finding confidence when “I can’t even stand up to my own parents or the mean boy at school.” The welcome open ending sends a clear signal that AnnaGrey’s saga will continue.
A tale with deft plot turns, a relatable young protagonist, and well-drawn secondary fantasy characters.Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781633738492
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Young Dragons
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
by Lauren Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Share your opinion of this book
More About This Book
by LaDarrion Williams ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024
A well-thought-out magical world that provocatively centers Black experiences.
Black diaspora magic manifests in a boy on the worst day of his life—but later, things only get more complicated.
When Malik Baron was 7, his mother vanished in the explosive moment his powers manifested while he defended them from mysterious cloaked figures. Ten years (and many foster homes later), the short-tempered Malik isn’t much better at controlling his powers, but he’s ready to leave Helena, Alabama, and start over with Taye, his foster brother. Reuniting with Mama Aya, the maternal grandmother in New Orleans he never knew, wasn’t part of the plan, but fate draws Malik to her—and into a secret world of magic. He discovers Caiman University—a sort of magical historically Black college—which may be where he’ll find answers to what happened to his mother. Narrator Malik, who uses colorful language, is fully aware of the Black Harry Potter subtext of his story, and he’s thoughtfully focused on protecting Taye, proving his mother is still alive, and surviving in a world that has never made things easy, even before supernatural threats emerged. The extensive worldbuilding incorporates West African, Caribbean, and Black American history and cultures to explain a magical reality hidden from view and relevant to the Black diaspora and Malik’s family history. When Malik bumps into an old friend and potential love interest on campus, everything is in place for him to grow into his powers, uncover the truth, and face new heartbreak.
A well-thought-out magical world that provocatively centers Black experiences. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780593711927
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
Share your opinion of this book
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.