An attention-grabbing plot-driven story that tackles themes of belonging.
In a world where almost everyone has superpowers, Alejandro Aragon is one of the rare Deficients.
Alé, as he’s known to Yalamba, his only friend, is ostracized by classmates and ridiculed by bullies. Alé believes that the only reason Yalamba has stuck by him is because of her ability to draw things into existence. At school, people with abilities like hers are called Ferals, and they’re regarded as only slightly better than Deficients. Alé’s mom supports him; his high-ranking Atlas father and brothers seem to barely tolerate his existence. When Alé’s Feral classmates and their families become targets of hate crimes, Alé tries to find the perpetrator and save the only friend he’s ever had. Luckily, he makes new friends along the way. Mixie Trait, Kazuki Tanaka, and Gwen Manghi join Alé’s mission and give him the support and trust he so desperately craves. Together they try to solve the mystery of the brutal attacks while navigating their school’s and community’s harsh, unforgiving cultures. Centering the bigotry around supernatural abilities allows readers to explore the weight of identity-based hatred through a science-fiction lens, although worldbuilding and in-depth character development take a back seat to the action. However, what this fast-paced narrative lacks in layers it makes up for in its original premise. Contextual clues suggest ethnic diversity.
An attention-grabbing plot-driven story that tackles themes of belonging. (ability status table) (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781643973494
Page Count: 230
Publisher: BHC Press
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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