Dark, exciting, and filled with dread.
In this duology opener, darkness is “devouring dreamers’ souls” in the Kingdom of Noctis and one 18-year-old is trying to save them all.
Esmer Havenfall’s family have always been Absolvers—chosen by the Light Bringer to distribute a life-saving elixir and protect their town from dreaming, a state that leaves people vulnerable to demons. But now, more people are being taken. After losing her parents and sister, Esmer is imprisoned for her ability to wield shadows, the force controlled by the Shadow Bringer and the source of Corruption. Esmer makes a pact with the Light Bringer to keep the Shadow Bringer’s mortal body sealed in his tomb; she believes she’s fighting for good. But as she enters the Dream Realm alongside the Shadow Bringer, she begins to question the stories she’s always believed. Through their journey, Esmer realizes that history changes depending on who tells it—and that good and evil may not be so easily defined. What begins as a mission to end Corruption transforms into a deeper quest for truth and identity, and Esmer and the Shadow Bringer realize their bond runs deeper than either of them imagined. Karlie’s debut, which was originally self-published in 2023, is a bloody and terrifying gothic fantasy. The complex worldbuilding and numerous cast members can be hard to track, although both are powerfully developed. The main characters are cued white.
Dark, exciting, and filled with dread. (glossary, locations) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9780316588157
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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 fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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