In the author’s (Insidious, 2010, etc.) action-packed fantasy, a troupe of thieving bandits is on the run with the latest plunder, while the fiercest of the bunch—the Four—must battle an army and cater to the will of a dragon.
The Four—two men, Ralcander and Nergal, and two women, Avawo and Kreen—earned their reputation for taking the beefiest part of their loot and killing any fellow brigand who tried to take a piece. But when they stumble upon an old temple in ruins, they’re bested by a dragon, which commands them to bring it the king’s son. Easier said than done: Prince Keldon has already begun assembling an army to track down the thieves. Do the Four engage Keldon’s legion to draw them to the two-headed beast, or can they resist the dragon’s control? McCloskey’s novel has little in the way of story and a seemingly endless barrage of men and creatures in combat. The fights, however, are captured with vivid descriptions that colorfully detail every strike and block and the fallen in the throes of death. One chapter even opens with action in progress—the “slap of an iron-hard hand” and “leather-bound feet shuffling” as two men spar. Many of the characters are reprehensible, but the Four are certainly less offensive than Talok, a warrior-monk initially enlisted to join the prince’s army with his fellow monks; but Talok decides that he’s the only one who’s necessary. Nergal, a half-orc and perhaps the most likable character, is simple-minded but is also apparently the only one not hiding anything. The fantasy story has its share of mystical creatures, including one that leaves decapitated soldiers in its wake, but the true focus of the book is the intense battle sequences. There’s also the occasional relief from the visceral signs of war, like Ralcander trying repeatedly to bed Avawo, despite knowledge that many men who’ve had that pleasure are dead by morning.
A hard-nosed medieval tale, recommended for readers serious about their action.Pub Date: Jan. 26, 2011
ISBN: 978-1456548667
Page Count: 216
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Did you like this book?
In the ninth book in the Bluford young-adult series, a young Latino man walks away from violence—but at great personal cost.
In a large Southern California city, 16-year-old Martin Luna hangs out on the fringes of gang life. He’s disaffected, fatherless and increasingly drawn into the orbit of the older, rougher Frankie. When a stray bullet kills Martin’s adored 8-year-old brother, Huero, Martin seems to be heading into a life of crime. But Martin’s mother, determined not to lose another son, moves him to another neighborhood—the fictional town of Bluford, where he attends the racially diverse Bluford High. At his new school, the still-grieving Martin quickly makes enemies and gets into trouble. But he also makes friends with a kind English teacher and catches the eye of Vicky, a smart, pretty and outgoing Bluford student. Martin’s first-person narration supplies much of the book’s power. His dialogue is plain, but realistic and believable, and the authors wisely avoid the temptation to lard his speech with dated and potentially embarrassing slang. The author draws a vivid and affecting picture of Martin’s pain and confusion, bringing a tight-lipped teenager to life. In fact, Martin’s character is so well drawn that when he realizes the truth about his friend Frankie, readers won’t feel as if they are watching an after-school special, but as though they are observing the natural progression of Martin’s personal growth. This short novel appears to be aimed at urban teens who don’t often see their neighborhoods portrayed in young-adult fiction, but its sophisticated characters and affecting story will likely have much wider appeal.
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591940173
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Townsend Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Did you like this book?
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A novel tells the story of two spirited girls who set out to save a lame foal in 1952.
Mary, age 12, lacks muscle control of her legs and must use a wheelchair. Her life is constantly interrupted by trips with her widower father to assorted doctors, all of whom have failed to help her. Mary tolerates the treatments, hoping to one day walk unassisted, but her true passion involves horses. Possessing a library filled with horse books, she loves watching and drawing the animals at a neighboring farm. She longs to own one herself. But her father, overprotective due to her disability and his own lingering grief over Mary’s dead mother, makes her keep her distance. Mary befriends Laura, the emotionally neglected daughter of the wealthy neighboring farm owners, and the two share secret buggy rides. Both girls are attracted to Illusion, a beautiful red bay filly on the farm. Mary learns that Illusion is to be put down by a veterinarian because of a lame leg. Horrified, she decides to talk to the barn manager about the horse (“Isn’t it okay for her to live even if she’s not perfect? I think she deserves a chance”). Soon, Mary and Laura attempt to raise money to save Illusion. At the same time, Mary begins to gain control of her legs thanks to water therapy and secret therapeutic riding with Laura. There is indeed a great deal of poignancy in a story of a girl with a disability fighting to defend the intrinsic value of a lame animal. But this book, the first installment of the Dream Horse Adventure Series, would be twice as touching if Mary interacted with Illusion more. In the tale’s opening, she watches the foal from afar, but she actually spends very little time with the filly she tries so hard to protect. This turns out to be a strange development given the degree to which the narrative relies on her devotion. Count (Selah’s Sweet Dream, 2015) draws Mary and Laura in broad but believable strokes, defined mainly by their unrelenting pluckiness in the face of adversity. While the work tackles disability, death, and grief, Mary’s and Laura’s environments are so idyllic and their optimism and perseverance so remarkable that the story retains an aura of uncomplicated gentleness throughout.
A short, simple, and sweet tale about two friends and a horse.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Did you like this book?
© Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
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.
