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 sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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