Existing fans will appreciate this trilogy closer that ends on a reader-friendly high note.
Leena and Noc must stop their enemies and fix old wrongs in this follow-up to The Frozen Prince (2020).
Following Yazmin’s attack on the Charmers, newly named Crown of the Council Leena must unify her people with Noc’s assassins so that they can stand together against Yazmin’s plot to awaken Ocnolog and use that legendary beast to destroy the kingdom of Lendria. They spell out what they know of Yazmin’s plan and launch a counterplan to consolidate their forces, including having long-lost prince Noc take his crown to depose villainous King Varek and claim Lendria’s army to fight Yazmin. This path continues the visits to burial sites and finds action and tension in unexpected obstacles, ambushes, and—of course—the charming of (or merely surviving) dangerous beasts. Leena and Noc’s love story is a done deal (sealed in racy, physical love scenes), so romantic tension comes in side characters (whose narration unfortunately feels fairly indistinguishable). Yazmin’s chapters, however, have a stronger voice and fresher perspective. Frequent recaps of the near past and future plans help readers keep the plot straight—especially those who won’t be tackling it in a single sitting—though sometimes too much signposting undercuts the narrative tension, and some reveals are too obvious. The ending leans into a wish-fulfilling happily-ever-after after a massive battle. Most characters default to White.
Existing fans will appreciate this trilogy closer that ends on a reader-friendly high note. (bestiary, bonus chapter) (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72823-228-7
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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