A thoroughly enjoyable arrangement of short fiction at once eerie, absurd, and thought-provoking.
More than three dozen tales—several of them previously unpublished—make up this varied short story collection of fantastical speculative fiction.
From playful entries involving a malevolent Christmas tree or a hot tub–dwelling monster to more disturbing vignettes, such as one in which a boy, neglected by his VR-gaming–obsessed parents, is led to violence, these stories shift easily between goofiness and real terror. Grouped into seven sections that provide a loose thematic structure, some of the stories are short, punchy, and sweet, and others are expansive, immersive, and prickly with atmosphere. They’re unified by their overwhelming sense of the uncanny; they explore interesting philosophical and ethical questions but never take themselves too seriously. Most of the stories have appeared in other anthologies; a few are co-written, one with Terry Black and three with the author’s son Brendan Shusterman. The entries are distinctive and original, but the sheer length of this collection may make it better for dipping into than for a through-read. Two new stories set in the world of the Arc of a Scythe close out the book and are not to be missed by fans of that series. The final one is a witty and fascinating meta-interview that imagines its characters—including the artificial intelligence entity the Thunderhead—answering questions from a reporter and in turn putting questions to Shusterman himself. There’s some ethnic diversity among the characters.
A thoroughly enjoyable arrangement of short fiction at once eerie, absurd, and thought-provoking. (Short stories. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
ISBN: 9781665990783
Page Count: 592
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
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