Strictly for techno-thriller fans.
Teens with superpowers battle an evil corporation and one another in this sequel to Overpowered (2014).
Nica, 16, tries to resist the mental powers of fellow student Dana after the smug girl invades the minds of Nica’s best friend, Oliver, and heartthrob, Jackson. Dana has the power to make people believe anything she wishes, and she’s using that ability in full support of Bar Tech, the corporate laboratory run by Richard Cochran, who’s been making genetic modifications to some of the local high school students, giving them superpowers. These fortunate few include Nica and her friends. Nica can become invisible, Oliver can move at amazingly fast speeds, and Jackson can generate devastating electrical charges. Meanwhile, their telekinetic friend Maya has been missing for months. When Oliver and Jackson turn against Nica, she teams up instead with Chase, Cochran’s son, initiating a mild love triangle. As Dana takes over more students, Nica, Chase, and a new friend, astral-projector Topher, try to infiltrate Bar Tech’s facilities to discover the real purpose of their experiments, thereby encountering mortal danger. Screenwriter Kruger focuses on suspense but gives Nica plenty of time to ponder her turmoil of emotions, significantly padding the book. The author solves several of his conundrums rather easily but reveals a surprise at the end, paving the way for another sequel. Characters remain shallow but accessible.
Strictly for techno-thriller fans. (Thriller. 12-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4424-3131-7
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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