Despite featuring familiar creatures, this series opener delivers solidly entertaining mythmaking.
A teenage princess in a mystical land secretly trains in mortal combat and survival strategies when elves unveil her destiny in liberating her people from dark magic.
Rothman’s heroic fantasy novel is the first chapter in his Prophecy saga, about the Rivertons, a contemporary American family. They accidentally pass through “the veil between worlds,” conveniently close to their house, and find themselves stuck in the magical land of Trimoria. There, all of them (even the family cat) assume legendary roles in a vast struggle of good against evil. But in this kickoff, the spotlight is off the Riverton household and on the natives of Trimoria. Hero Arabelle is the pampered and protected teenage daughter of Honfrion, a nomadic sheikh, and his caravan. In the aftermath of a “demon war” that left much of the planet partitioned off by deadly mist barriers, Honfrion’s people wander Trimoria in thrall to Azazel, a centuries-old dark wizard (who in turn serves an evil elf queen). Headstrong Arabelle, inheriting her mother’s prophetic powers, yearns for more out of life—and she gets it when an attack by a corrupted creature doses her with a venom she must counteract with exercise and other activities. The virtuous, secretive elves (and a godlike being called Seder) inform Arabelle that even with the poison threatening her life, she is crucial to fulfilling a prophecy that will free Trimoria from its diabolical tormentors. But the way is hard and dangerous, and it involves strangers (readers can guess who) coming from somewhere outside. Meanwhile, Azazel, ever on guard for any threat, including unauthorized magic, has his vicious, part-ogre minion Kirag and elite Talon patrols watching for any irregularities. The author adroitly handles genre mainstays like dwarfs, dragons, elves, and warlocks in a manner that will find approval among sword-and-sorcery fans, especially ones in the YA crowd seeking women-fronted material presented in a fairly noncondescending manner. During her adventures, Arabelle has to be rescued from time to time, but she also proves her mettle more than once in this captivating story. Those who enjoy this curtain opener will likely continue for the ride in the next volumes.
Despite featuring familiar creatures, this series opener delivers solidly entertaining mythmaking. (author bio)Pub Date: June 29, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Primordial Press
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
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