by Megan DeVos ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2019
A brisk portrayal of a frightening dystopian future.
Grace and Hayden face separation and war between the camps.
The tale launches where Anarchy (2019) left off, with Grace suffering a broken rib from the latest supply raid. As their relationship deepens, Hayden comes to realize that the greatest act of love he can give Grace is forcefully returning her to her family at camp Greystone, that of his greatest enemies. Upon his so doing, Grace is heartbroken by what she perceives as Hayden’s lack of love for her. She quickly discerns that her family is about to launch an all-out war, a complete takeover of Hayden’s Blackwing, because the raid-and-be-raided construct is no longer sustainable. What few resources were left after the War for Life are now all but depleted, so the fewer people the better. In this sequel, DeVos includes far fewer descriptive sex frolics and instead engages in plot development and tension building. Particularly vivid is the scene when they raid the Armoury that holds—hidden and guarded—the last of the destroyed city’s supplies. Here, as they try to get in and out as quickly as possible, they come across a gruesome warning to potential thieves. The bonus chapter provides emotive context that the first installment lacked and the sad vision that, given the scarcity of resources, history might be doomed to repeat itself. All characters appear to be white.
A brisk portrayal of a frightening dystopian future. (Dystopian romance. 15-18)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4091-8386-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Orion/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More by Megan DeVos
BOOK REVIEW
by Megan DeVos
by Jenny Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2021
Entertaining.
A tale of love and loss that spans the globe.
Instead of having a carefree summer, biracial (Korean/White) Anna is sent away from the familiarity of New York, her friends, the past school year’s scandal—and the memories of her dead boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. While struggling with grief, her shattered self-image, and an uncertain future, Anna attempts to reclaim her summer in Seoul, where she knows only her father and grandmother. Beatrice, Alexia’s cousin, juggles her clingy girlfriend and falling for a California surfer even as she represses her grief. Meanwhile, Anna’s brother, Steven, plans for an amazing summer party, although Lolly, his girlfriend, is away at theater camp. Steven’s best friend, Dustin, and Kimmie, Lolly’s younger sister, are equally nervous about their first sexual experience together. This sequel to Anna K (2020) contains fewer mentions of luxury brands, and the characters exhibit an increased awareness of the impacts of wealth and socio-economic status. The novel also touches on issues of addiction, sexism, cultural differences, fame, relationships, love, and mental health; in particular, the portrayals of living with grief and redefining the self after a loved one dies shine. Despite some awkward time skips, the humor, pop-culture references, and characters’ distinct voices strengthen the story. Fans of the first novel will enjoy this follow-up, which is also accessible to readers new to Anna and her world. Some major characters are White; Dustin is Black and Jewish, and there is diversity in the supporting cast.
Entertaining. (cast of characters) (Fiction. 15-18)Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-23646-3
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More by Jenny Lee
BOOK REVIEW
by Jenny Lee ; illustrated by Kelly Light
BOOK REVIEW
by Jenny Lee illustrated by Kelly Light
by Lynette Noni ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2021
Readable but not remarkable, yet another grimdark political fantasy.
Prison life gets even more punishing in this fantasy series opener.
Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan is 10 years into a life sentence at “death prison” Zalindov. She’s succeeded her late father as the titular prison healer, dosing patients with herbs and possessing extensive, modern medical knowledge of bacteria, viruses, and immune systems. Aside from cheerful innocent/MacGuffin Tipp, Kiva befriends few fellow prisoners and even fewer guards, most of whom are harshly abusive. While Naari, a new female guard, and Jaren, a handsome new prisoner, chip away at her frozen facade, Kiva volunteers to undertake an epic Trial by Ordeal on behalf of the Rebel Queen, the newest political prisoner. Under pressure to save her friends, the Rebel Queen, and herself—and losing hope of rescue or release—Kiva faces four elemental magic Trials sans innate talent. In between grueling, gruesome spectacles, Kiva also acts as an epidemiologist, tracking down an illness plaguing the prisoners. The claustrophobic setting—evoking the horrors of a Siberian gulag or Nazi concentration camp—exudes dread and brutality; levity and lightness are minimal. A predictable romance ensues, and generic fantasy clichés abound—royals and rebels, lost heirs, vague magic—hastily concluded with a trite plot twist and setup for a sequel. Most main characters read as White; there is a diversity of skin tones in this fantasy world.
Readable but not remarkable, yet another grimdark political fantasy. (map) (Fantasy. 15-adult)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-43455-9
Page Count: 416
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
Share your opinion of this book
More by Lynette Noni
BOOK REVIEW
by Lynette Noni
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
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.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.