Abounding in twists, betrayal, and duplicitous characters that surprise.
Lovett may have prevailed in the bridal competition, but the path to marrying the prince is far from smooth.
In this duology closer, silkwitch Lovett Tamerlane continues to masquerade as the “country debutante,” Cecilia Lovett, the winner of the Vainglory and therefore the official fiancée of Noé, son of the notorious Weaver King, Bastian Alaire. Despite her triumph in the contest of his own design, the king isn’t pleased that his son is engaged to Lovett, nor is he at ease with the fact that competitor Sybil Dabos died during the Vainglory—not in an accident, as was reported at the time, but by homicide. Bastian challenges Lovett: Find the murderer before the wedding and he’ll overlook her lack of a dower, or bridal gift. If she fails, he’ll send her to the cloisters. Bastian invites five of the silkwitches from the Vainglory to be Lovett’s bridesmaids, but all is not as it at first appears. Gregovic threads themes of class and patriarchy throughout and continues to engage with fast-moving prose that pulls readers in. Lovett’s survival instincts and powerful Wit (an ability to open locked doors) contribute to this enjoyable read that centers on a white-presenting main cast. Returning fans will enjoy more time with characters from the first book who make appearances, but Gregovic seamlessly orients readers new to this world, making this work accessible as a stand-alone.
Abounding in twists, betrayal, and duplicitous characters that surprise. (guide to the silkwitches of the Vainglory) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9798217120680
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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