An uneven and rushed fantasy opener.
A young hero learns of his destiny and true parentage in this first installment of a new fantasy series.
The people of the kingdom of Elayas have lived under the rule of usurper King Oldag for far too long. The tyrant engages in dark magic and forbids all music and creative activities to quell any possible resistance. However, the Sepharim Brotherhood fights back against his oppressive rule. Jackal and the Swordsman are two veteran Brotherhood members sent to retrieve the fabled Key of Power, which is said to amplify the powers of those who hold it. A young boy named Rugal, a recent graduate from the Sepharim school, has a strong dynamis—a unique magical power inherited through the paternal line; he has the ability to shapeshift. He joins Jackal and the Swordsman on their mission. During this journey, Rugal learns his true father’s identity; it was kept a secret to protect Rugal until the time was right for him to meet his fate to overthrow Oldag. The adventurers fight fierce enemies, but also gain allies who rally behind Rugal. Golden’s fast-paced and action-packed series starter builds momentum toward a final confrontation with Oldag. Highlights include a well-developed relationship between Jackal and the Swordsman and a fated romance between Jackal and woman named Mura, the cousin of the king whom Oldag murdered. On the other hand, many elements of the worldbuilding are superficial and derivative; the narrative voice seems to struggle to appeal to different audiences, sometimes coming across as too young, and at other times as adult. Despite Rugal’s understandable initial surprise and reluctance regarding his future heroism (“Am I a leaf in the wind—that I cannot control my own destiny?!!”), he takes up the mantle of an inspirational leader without enough development to make it feel convincing, despite a motivational message: “We each have our own Key of Power—belief in ourselves and our own abilities.”
An uneven and rushed fantasy opener.Pub Date: April 19, 2023
ISBN: 978-1956891065
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Golden Cross Ranch
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.
Three women deal very differently with vampirism in Schwab’s era-spanning follow-up to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020).
In 16th-century Spain, Maria seduces a wealthy viscount in an attempt to seize whatever control she can over her own life. It turns out that being a wife—even a wealthy one—is just another cage, but then a mysterious widow offers Maria a surprising escape route. In the 19th century, Charlotte is sent from her home in the English countryside to live with an aunt in London when she’s found trying to kiss her best friend. She’s despondent at the idea of marrying a man, but another mysterious widow—who has a secret connection to Maria’s widow from centuries earlier—appears and teaches Charlotte that she can be free to love whomever she chooses, if she’s brave enough. In 2019, Alice’s memories of growing up in Scotland with her mercurial older sister, Catty, pull her mind away from her first days at Harvard University. And though she doesn’t meet any mysterious widows, Alice wakes up alone after a one-night stand unable to tolerate sunlight, sporting two new fangs, and desperate to drink blood. Horrified at her transformation, she searches Boston for her hookup, who was the last person she remembers seeing before she woke up as a vampire. Schwab delicately intertwines the three storylines, which are compelling individually even before the reader knows how they will connect. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence. Alice’s flashbacks to Catty are particularly moving, and subtly play off themes of grief and loneliness laid out in the historical timelines.
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop.Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250320520
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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