For readers who find George R.R. Martin’s epic too much, here’s considerably less. Sequels are certain.
Lips meet, hearts blaze, blood gushes and kingdoms clash in this thoroughly predictable Song of Ice and Fire wannabe.
Chucking in requisite elements—a magic ring, crystals with “ultimate power,” a vague prophecy about a chosen one, hidden Watchers, societies frozen at a medieval level—“Rhodes,” otherwise known as paranormal romance author Michelle Rowen (Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide, 2011), centers her tale on teen characters in three adjacent lands who are swept into savage conflicts of both hearts and politics. Showing particular fondness for cut throats the author splashes both opening chapters and climactic battle with sprays of gore as, in between, impulsive Princess Cleo of Westeros Auranos falls in love with her hunky bodyguard before setting out incognito (in courtly dress) to wander impoverished villages in search of magical healing for her dying older sister; merchant’s son Jonas of Paelsia turns revenge seeker burning with hatred for the royals who murder his brother; and Prince Magnus of Limeros wrestles with “forbidden feelings” for his sister Lucia—whose growing magical powers make her the centerpiece of their bloody minded father’s schemes of conquest. Several of the sympathetic characters in the teeming cast suffer sudden death or at least inner strife that settles out in different ways, but all are recognizable types and any secrets they harbor are either telegraphed or clumsily manipulated to heighten romantic tension. The sex is all implicit or offstage, and even the hint of incest turns out to be illusory.
For readers who find George R.R. Martin’s epic too much, here’s considerably less. Sequels are certain. (Fantasy. 13-17)Pub Date: Dec. 11, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-59514-584-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2012
A mare’s nest plot-wise, but the intriguing setting and characters make it worth untangling.
In this second series entry, shape-shifting tiger sisters and their escorts undertake tests and quests in a magic land infused with Russian folklore.
Because the six principal characters are scattered at the beginning—and proceed in several directions in changing combinations—this sequel to Tiger’s Tale (2024) tends to sprawl. But whether readers prefer their folkloric adventures to be melodramatic, romantic, comical, or mystical in tone, Houck endeavors to provide something to satisfy them. She also assiduously mines her Slavic sources of inspiration, stirring tricksy bargains and helpful gifts (like magic boots) into encounters with powerful figures from Morozko (Father Frost) and Baba Yaga (here called “Baba Yuga”) to a mischievous likho, or spirit of misfortune. The young travelers are exposed to generous doses of life wisdom, opportunities to heal old wounds or learn from experiences, and (for some, at least) steamy romantic awakenings. Houck imparts many lessons, but she laces the narrative with Russian words, often slang (“Gaw! Boy’s near froze off his yaytsa!”), and modern-sounding expressions (“That’s just weird,” “Well, cry me a river, son”) that both enrich and lighten the atmosphere. Contests with foes, like the troll-like vodnik and a child-murdering ghost, provide thrills. Aside from an Indian mage from Houck’s Tiger’s Curse series putting in a guest appearance, the cast reads white.
A mare’s nest plot-wise, but the intriguing setting and characters make it worth untangling. (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9798212221733
Page Count: 350
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
An exciting adventure.
On the brink of dystopia, a girl and a mechanical dragon help defend democracy in an alternate future Washington, D.C.
Sassy prep schooler Prudence Wu smuggles banned media into Incorporated territory in order to supplement her meager scholarship. Though there are warnings of wyverns, war machines used during the Partition Wars, Pru cons her way past Barricade walls during a job and ends up on the run. A chance encounter with a frightening beast leads to her waking in her dorm with a blacked-out memory and a dragon mech imprinted on her mind. In anime-like fashion, with the help of her well-connected best friend and highly placed allies, Pru reluctantly agrees to pilot the dragon Rebelwing. The author deftly flies between levity and heartbreak, cracking jokes and inserting astute historical and political commentary into a setting where survivors of wars past struggle with fears for the future. Interludes featuring student chat boards and newsfeeds offer a fuller picture of events, however sometimes they are jarring, especially when they appear in the middle of action scenes. This will appeal to fans of mecha anime; young, fumbling romance; and stories about superintelligent teens trying the save the world. Prudence is ethnically Chinese, and the diverse supporting cast includes Korean, Latinx, and queer characters.
An exciting adventure. (Science fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-3509-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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