Surprisingly readable, given its unlikely setup
She's the destined savior of the secret oligarchy ruling the world, but she just wants her mom.
Avery used to think she was just your average violet-eyed American teenager with a mysterious past. She's since learned that she's the prophesied daughter of the Circle of Twelve, destined to marry the One to protect the Circle against their ancient enemies, the Order. Worse, she knows who the One really is, and it's not the scion of any of the 12 inbred families that include most of the world's politicians, businessmen, actors, and beautiful people. Instead it's Stellan, the gorgeous childhood best frenemy of Avery's forbidden love, Jack. Of course, none of this will matter if they don't rescue Avery's mother, a hostage of the Order, by solving the ancient puzzle of Napoleon on an old bracelet. Meanwhile Avery's powerful blood family—the Saxons, the British members of the Circle of Twelve—are determined to marry her off to another Circle house in an attempt to consolidate power. If only the Order weren't bumping off the few bearable candidates for Avery's hand as fast as she can meet them. And of course, there'll soon be the sudden yet inevitable betrayals. The novel reads like a heap of “chosen one” tropes thrown in a blender, and it centers on an epic battle between two forces composed mostly of jerks. Despite its retrograde premise, this love-triangle thriller features a pleasing moment of responsible sexual choice.
Surprisingly readable, given its unlikely setup . (Thriller. 12-16)Pub Date: March 8, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-16651-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge.
Two teens with a dark secret return to their old summer camp.
Childhood friends Esme and Kayla can’t wait to return to Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training, ready to try everything they couldn’t do when they were younger: find cute boys, stay up late, and sneak out after hours. Even Andy, their straight-laced supervisor, can’t dampen their excitement, especially after they meet the crushworthy Olly and Jake. An intuitive 17-year-old, Esme is ready to jump in and teach her cute little campers. But when a threatening message appears, Esme and Kayla realize the secret they’ve kept hidden for nearly a decade is no longer safe. Paranoia and fear soon cause Esme and Kayla to revisit their ominous secret and realize that nobody in the camp can be trusted. The slow buildup of suspense and the use of classic horror elements contrast with lighthearted camp activities, bonding with new friends, and budding romance. Similarly, Esme’s first-person point of view allows for increased tension and action as well as offering insight into her emotional and mental well-being. Discussions of adulthood, trauma, and recovery are subtle and realistic, but acts of sexism and machismo aren’t fully analyzed. While the strong buildup of action comes late, it leads to a shockingly satisfying finale. Major characters are White.
An eerie thriller reminiscent of summer horror movies that will keep readers on edge. (Thriller. 12-16)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12497-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
A smart, timely outing.
Two teens connect through a mysterious podcast in this sophomore effort by British author Oseman (Solitaire, 2015).
Frances Janvier is a 17-year-old British-Ethiopian head girl who is so driven to get into Cambridge that she mostly forgoes friendships for schoolwork. Her only self-indulgence is listening to and creating fan art for the podcast Universe City, “a…show about a suit-wearing student detective looking for a way to escape a sci-fi, monster-infested university.” Aled Last is a quiet white boy who identifies as “partly asexual.” When Frances discovers that Aled is the secret creator of Universe City, the two embark on a passionate, platonic relationship based on their joint love of pop culture. Their bond is complicated by Aled’s controlling mother and by Frances’ previous crush on Aled’s twin sister, Carys, who ran away last year and disappeared. When Aled’s identity is accidently leaked to the Universe City fandom, he severs his relationship with Frances, leaving her questioning her Cambridge goals and determined to win back his affection, no matter what the cost. Frances’ narration is keenly intelligent; she takes mordant pleasure in using an Indian friend’s ID to get into a club despite the fact they look nothing alike: “Gotta love white people.” Though the social-media–suffused plot occasionally lags, the main characters’ realistic relationship accurately depicts current issues of gender, race, and class.
A smart, timely outing. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-233571-5
Page Count: 496
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
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