A superhero series opener that should work quick, indelible magic on audiences.
A YA fantasy features an underprivileged teen who starts displaying fantastic powers.
In this first installment of a series, young Marc Mondragon of Rifle, Colorado, is dirt poor. He and his mother, Jenny, struggle in the absence of his fireman father, who died. Making life worse are two thin bumps on his shoulder blades that might be cancerous and Deputy Brandwhite, who chases him for graffiti he didn’t spray. Marc has also been experiencing haunting dreams about a creature “speaking fire.” One day, after a night of pursuit by the deputy—which led the teen to an odd-smelling drainage pipe—Marc makes himself a grilled cheese sandwich. When he uses the wrong portion of the electric stovetop, he burns his hand but feels no pain. In his excitement, he bikes to the diner where Jenny works to show her. Elsewhere, the wealthy James Leopold Drakesel fears for his family’s legacy. He’s contracted the coldblooded Stone Stajinkski to kill numerous children who pose some sort of threat. Marc, meanwhile, encounters a cocky young skater named Steve Yabloka, who offers to get him a new skateboard. Later Marc learns that Steve is like him, impervious to flame, and even able to control it. It turns out that they both belong to the Dragonkyn. Crafting a sure-footed fantasy with familiar elements, Jones (Boy Who Ate America, 2007) grips readers with brisk pacing and a winning mythos. He also excels in portraying the teen traumas of acne, bullies, and classroom crushes, all underlined by an X-Men–style barrage of superpowers, including telekinesis and Firespew (spouting fire). Evocative prose lifts the narrative above the average coming-of-age action fantasy (“In his very pores a new relationship was forming with the gaseous alien called fire”). Throughout, Jones uses a substance called lix, which Dragonkyn drink from a canteen as a supposed performance enhancer, to warn against teen alcohol abuse. Agile storytelling allows readers to see the threat of rogue Dragonkyn in New York City and potentially elsewhere in future installments. A blowout ending should ensure readers will return.
A superhero series opener that should work quick, indelible magic on audiences.Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4621-1978-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Great for a middle- or high-school audience looking for some fun.
Comedy and suspense dominate this imaginative twist on the Dracula legend.
Harnissey, Dracula’s vampire nephew, and his companion, the ancient spider Morleaux, arrive at the old homestead for a visit when Dracula leaves for London. Harnissey, innocent, well-meaning and constantly bumbling, is attacked by the vampire sisters in residence, who intend to take over the castle while the Master is away. He and his intelligent spider sidekick eventually form an alliance with Dracula’s undead butler, a nicely drawn character always surrounded by a halo of buzzing flies, and a kingly, sinister cat, to do battle against a centuries-old vampire sorceress who’s arrived holding a grudge, along with her skeleton army. Bayne has a flair for droll comedy. His monstrous characters stand out clearly and distinctly as individuals, and the author’s clever focus on the other side of Bram Stoker’s novel helps fill out the story. The humorous undead protagonists, who are afraid of ghosts, add plenty of flavor to the story, as does the author’s incorporation of historical detail. The only flaw is Bayne’s tendency toward too-flippant dialogue, which is clearly designed to appeal to adolescents, but is inconsistent with the more sophisticated style used in the narration. Still, this is an entertaining romp that displays originality and inventiveness.
Great for a middle- or high-school audience looking for some fun. (Fiction. YA)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2006
ISBN: 0-595-40242-9
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A fantasy romance novel that shows much promise as the kickoff to a series.
A princess must choose between her kingdom and her true love.
Princess Alera, heiress to the throne of Hytanica, has reached a crossroads in her life. She has agreed to marry to benefit her kingdom. But Alera is displeased with her father’s choice of suitor, the egocentric and arrogant Lord Steldor. Selected for his firm hand and military skill, Steldor can expect to wield much power over the inquisitive and spirited princess–Hytanic tradition favors the rule of males, so Alera must settle down and defer to her leading man. As preparations for marriage are made, the return of a long-lost child of Hytanica, Narian, from the rival Cokyri people sends shockwaves through the kingdom–and Alera’s heart. The Cokyri are renowned for their violent and bloodthirsty ways, and Narian is welcomed warily by the masses. Alera is quick to warm to him–he is mysterious and daring, fearless and capable. And Narian takes her seriously. Their clandestine relationship leads Alera to take dangerous risks, especially when the Cokyrians’ plans to reclaim Narian as their own come to light. The looming conflict jeopardizes their nascent love affair, as well as the whole of Hytanica. The princess finds herself not only pitted between two suitors but forced to decide between her royal obligations and her heart’s deepest desire. Debut novelist Kluver’s solid world-building skills flesh out this dynamic coming-of-age romance with strong detail and cultural development. Alera is fiery and likable and will find favor among young adult readers. Lively secondary characters, with the exception of a somewhat flat depiction of Steldor, and sharp dialogue, combined with richly imagined Hytanic legend and history, keep the pace of this epic moving until the last scene. However, the tale’s abrupt cliffhanger leaves both major story lines frustratingly stalled until the sequel.
A fantasy romance novel that shows much promise as the kickoff to a series.Pub Date: April 15, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9802089-7-9
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2011
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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