A satisfying conclusion to a fast-paced and heartfelt adventure.
In this duology closer, a young woman finds her way home through storytelling.
Ever since Emlyn accidentally opened connections between the spheres in the series opener, she’s known she’d have to be the one to put things back to rights. This is no easy task for her and her Novem because one of their members, Laramie, is missing in the storyworlds. Laramie is accompanied by Frank, an injured wyvern who needs to get home for the sake of her health. Meanwhile, Camille, Emlyn’s sister, finds herself held captive as bait in one of the spheres. Working together, Emlyn and her team must break the bridges between worlds in order to build new pathways and set the stories straight. With such high stakes, failure isn’t an option. As readers dive back into the world of Rivenlea, they’re welcomed by familiar characters who help ground them as the action immediately picks up. Since there’s little recap of previous events, readers must be familiar with the earlier book to fully appreciate this one. The well-crafted worldbuilding details and thoughtfully laid out plot points combine to produce an entertaining story. The use of multiple perspectives and a layered narrative structure guides readers through the various reimagined storyworlds. Franklin’s effective use of foreshadowing creates an engaging experience that will particularly resonate with readers who are familiar with the classic stories she draws upon. The central cast presents white.
A satisfying conclusion to a fast-paced and heartfelt adventure. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
ISBN: 9798886052466
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
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 sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener.
Teens from different social spheres collaborate, investigating magical mysteries while navigating their shared attraction.
When 18-year-old Wren Hayes doesn’t receive a magical gift from the three Fates—Dawn, Day, and Dusk—she’s shunned by Aurilian high society. Unbeknownst to Wren, 19-year-old Damien, a thief from the Void (a part of the city she’s forbidden to visit) has taken the locket that should have been her gift from the Fates. He’s shocked to discover a photo of himself inside. Using his own Fates’ gift—a mirror with powers of invisibility—Damien infiltrates a party and steals a silver watch from a guest. But his gift isn’t fully functioning, and Wren tackles him, sending them both tumbling into the mud. They tussle and exchange flirty barbs before Damien makes off with his prize, losing Wren’s locket in the process. Unsure why someone from the Void would possess such a gift and determined to uncover why hers was “unjustly kept” from her, Wren tracks down Damien. Seeking answers of his own, he agrees to work with her. Their well-crafted dance of desire and restraint is on point (“She stifled a stunned noise as I placed a menacing kiss—a mere graze of my lips—on the back of her hand”), melding seamlessly with the plot. The story addresses sexism, privilege, and wealth while hurtling the characters into a whirlwind of action and disturbing revelations. Wren presents white, and Damien has tanned skin.
A sexy, swoony, action-packed duology opener. (map) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9798217117215
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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