This tale of found family and recovery weaves an unforgettable punk rock–infused spell.
Xochi, a teen runaway, is contracted by 12-year-old Pallas and her polyamorous family to be their governess.
The night of an after-party during the vernal equinox, Xochi and her charge conjure two fey children bent on punishing all who have wronged the older girl. Debut author Keil paints San Francisco in both specific and broad strokes—the music scene, fashion, and lack of modern technology hint at a possibly historical setting. The worldbuilding falls somewhere between the dangerously thrilling and dark urban fantasies of Holly Black and the magic-infused, sweeping romances of Anna-Marie McLemore. The writing soars, especially at the sentence level, alternating effortlessly between past and present and the perspectives of multiple protagonists, including a bookstore cat with ties to the faery world. The secondary characters are multidimensional and bring their own storied pasts, which will draw readers to this loving and unconventional family. The often flippant dialogue helps to break up some of the heavier, more painful, and rawer passages. Xochi’s reckless decisions, especially a taboo sexual relationship and high-chasing drug use, aren’t played for drama or effect—they exemplify a truly traumatized teen on the path to recovery and healing. Through risky and sometimes-empowering behavior, she learns to forgive and love herself. Xochi is biracial (Mexican-American and white); she is also queer, as are multiple secondary characters.
This tale of found family and recovery weaves an unforgettable punk rock–infused spell. (Magical realism/urban fantasy. 15-adult)Pub Date: June 18, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64129-034-0
Page Count: 360
Publisher: Soho Teen
Review Posted Online: April 10, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
A very full mixed bag.
In the sequel to Furyborn (2018), Rielle and Eliana struggle across time with their powers and prophesied destinies.
Giving readers only brief recaps, this book throws them right into complicated storylines in this large, lovingly detailed fantasy world filled with multiple countries, two different time periods, and hostile angels. Newly ordained Rielle contends with villainous Corien’s interest in her, the weakening gate that holds the angels at bay, and distrust from those who don’t believe her to be the Sun Queen. A thousand years in the future, Eliana chafes under her unwanted destiny and finds her fear of losing herself to her powers (like the Blood Queen) warring with her need to save those close to her. The rigid alternation between time-separated storylines initially feels overstuffed, undermining tension, but once more characters get point-of-view chapters and parallels start paying off, the pace picks up. The multiethnic cast (human versus angelic is the only divide with weight) includes characters of many sexual orientations, and their romantic storylines include love triangles, casual dalliances, steady couples, and couples willing to invite in a third. While many of the physically intimate scenes are loving, some are rougher, including ones that cross lines of clear consent and introduce a level of violence that many young readers will not be ready for. The ending brings heartbreaking twists to prime readers for the trilogy’s conclusion.
A very full mixed bag. (map, list of elements) (Fantasy. 17-adult)Pub Date: May 21, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-5665-4
Page Count: 608
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
A sweet, slow-paced novel about a teen learning to love her body.
Greer Walsh wishes she were one person...unfortunately, with her large breasts, she feels like she’s actually three.
High school sophomore and math whiz Greer is self-conscious about her body. Maude and Mavis, as she’s named her large breasts, are causing problems for her. When Greer meets new kid Jackson Oates, she wishes even more that she had a body that she didn’t feel a need to hide underneath XXL T-shirts. While trying to impress Jackson, who has moved to the Chicago suburbs from Cleveland, Greer decides to try out for her school’s volleyball team. When she makes JV, Greer is forced to come to terms with how her body looks and feels in a uniform and in motion as well as with being physically close with her teammates. The story is told in the first person from Greer’s point of view. Inconsistent storytelling as well as Greer’s (somewhat distracting) personified inner butterfly make this realistic novel a slow but overall enjoyable read. The story contains elements of light romance as well as strong female friendships. Greer is white with a Christian mom and Jewish dad; Jackson seems to be white by default, and there is diversity among the secondary characters.
A sweet, slow-paced novel about a teen learning to love her body. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 23, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-1524-8
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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