Dramatic and well-wrought, with strong crossover appeal for adult readers.
Human and dragon princesses navigate ancient magic and forbidden attraction to save their world.
To maintain diplomatic relations between dragons and humans, Kirek, a draconic princess, is sent in her human form from the dragons’ mountain keep to meet the human Queen of Andrath and her 18-year-old heir, Samansa. Although interspecies pairings are prohibited, the princesses are drawn to one another. When their stolen kiss breaks the Heartstone, which facilitates human-dragon communication, and forges a pair bond between them, the princesses are forced to travel across the realm to uncover the secrets that separate their kinds in the hope of uniting against a growing threat. Although both societies are matriarchal, the worldbuilding features high contrasts between the rugged, utilitarian dragon realm and the soft, lush human one, distinctions that are embodied physically and emotionally in the princesses themselves. Elements of Strickland’s fantasy world feel reminiscent of medieval Europe. The carefully plotted action sequences and battles between dragons result in carnage and aren’t for the squeamish. There is ample LGBTQ+ representation among the main and supporting characters, and the book explores timely topics, such as gender expression, sexism, reproductive freedom, and acceptance of transgender people. Pale, redheaded Samansa, who’s “short and soft and plump,” presents white, and Kirek, in her human form, has purplish gray hair, silver eyes, and pale skin. There’s diversity in skin tone among the supporting characters.
Dramatic and well-wrought, with strong crossover appeal for adult readers. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 15-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781250325907
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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