A fast-paced if overlong middle volume that will leave fans eager for the series closer.
In the aftermath of the events of Sky’s End (2024), Conrad finds himself entrenched in the war against the Below.
Now Captain of his Hunter ship and Prince of the Skylands, he faces the challenges that come with his high rank. Conrad’s ruthless uncle rules with an iron fist, demanding unwavering loyalty from Conrad and his sister, Ella. Conrad’s feelings for Bryce deepen, but his uncle’s disapproval of her as a suitable partner puts their relationship in a precarious position. As Conrad navigates the complexities of leadership, he must make tough choices about the future of his family, friends, and the islands under his protection. Meanwhile, the Lantians, the people of the Below, continue to infiltrate the Skylands’ ranks, unleashing deadly new creatures in the skies, and Conrad’s uncle assigns him a pivotal mission, one that could alter the course of the war. While the book is packed with action, some of the battle scenes become repetitive, and some judicious trimming would have made the story feel punchier. However, readers will gain deeper insights into the worldbuilding, including the roles of the various Trades and the motivations of the Lantians. The ending sets the stage for an exciting trilogy finale. Most characters are cued white.
A fast-paced if overlong middle volume that will leave fans eager for the series closer. (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781682637067
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
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