An enjoyably gauzy sojourn into mystery and enchantment.
In Christina’s YA novel, a mournful teen sets out on a magical journey to rediscover the past she only vaguely remembers in snatches of troubling dreams.
“On the Atlantic coast, tucked away on the east end of Long Island, New York, there was a little antiques shop.” This is the first stop on young amnesiac Kai’s remarkable dream-directed journey into the ethereal realm of Altier as she searches for answers about her past. In Altier, an eclectic band of fellow travelers immediately coalesces around Kai, including Siru (a thief), Melas (his pal), Adima (a noblewoman), Keiro (a warrior), and Noma (an agent from the benevolent HERO organization), all of whom suggest classic roleplaying archetypes. Together, they learn of the mysterious Hourglass and the grasping king bent on seizing its power for his own ends—never mind the fact that the Hourglass “leads those who strive to possess it into the arms of ruin or death instead, all the while protecting its existence.” Along the way, Kai and her new friends discover more about the nature of the ever-enigmatic Hourglass, as well as the secretive identity of its guardian and the reasons behind dispatching each of them on the lofty quest in the first place. The novel’s world is beautifully crafted and vivid: “Her long blonde hair swished behind her as she took another staircase down deeper. Save for the torches, the dungeons were as dark as coal.” Christina loads her often luxurious prose with heavy doses of righteousness and rectitude, and younger readers will no doubt be naturally drawn to the central themes of family, friends, and justice. The text is very dialogue-heavy—these colorful adventurers enjoy conversing at length every step of the way, which richly illuminates each of the characters while casting an almost dreamlike spell on the reader.
An enjoyably gauzy sojourn into mystery and enchantment.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9798234010889
Page Count: 229
Publisher: Caeli Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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