An epic mashup that will reward readers of both contemporary and classic fantasy.
A set of triplets must save a magical realm from an evil goddess in Burgess’ YA fantasy debut.
Fourteen years ago, in the realm of Eleusia, Queen Sharra vanished from Dundarden Castle. The wizard Azmodeus helped hide her young triplets from Hera, who’s targeted the family as revenge on her husband, Zeus, who believed Sharra to be the reincarnation of a “young, mortal river nymph” he loved. Now Hera presents a challenge: If the triplets can answer six riddles, Hera will lift a curse from the land. Two of the kids, 16-year-olds Jamie and Jeremiah, return to Eleusia from the Earth dimension, where Azmodeus sent them; the third triplet is among a ragtag group of teens with unusual but untested powers who live in rural Glockamar. (Hera has charged a woman called the Spider with collecting such special children at a place called the Sanctuary.) After Azmodeus gathers his adventurers together, they learn about the riddles and the necessity of saving the Laurel Tree, which controls their troll pursuers. Should they fail, Eleusia will fall to darkness—and other dimensions, including Earth, might be next. Can the group, which includes Mikel, Tovan, Petre, Portia, and Melisande, outwit beings from Earth mythology along the way? Burgess offers YA fantasy readers an intriguing conceptual jam session. The premise that magical beings—including deities, pixies, dragons, and characters from literature, such as Ali Baba—fled Earth long ago is a particularly fertile one. The main characters’ mission doesn’t truly begin for about 100 pages, but then Burgess effectively gives each player a chance to stand out. Mikel, for example, learns he’s a wizard, and unlikable Portia solves a tough riddle and feels a sense of belonging. The oldest hero, Melisande, is 17, but the narrative has the energy of a middle-grade epic; the tale’s barrage of colorful creatures—including two different shape-changing sidekicks—and shocking revelations will keep young readers engaged. A bit more emphasis on the teens’ inner lives, however, might make the plot feel less cluttered in future installments.
An epic mashup that will reward readers of both contemporary and classic fantasy.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-03-910619-2
Page Count: -
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: July 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
