Overderivative and underedited.
Online writing community Wattpad’s popular love-triangle story about angels and vampires.
Francesca’s a mystery to herself—every time she dies, she “wake[s] up again” with only occasional glimpses of memories from her previous lives, such as the memory of Gabriel’s name and handsome face. A chance encounter with the badly wounded, good-looking Vampire Jonah draws “Cessie” into a world where a familiar figure—the Angel Gabriel—rescues Second Generation Vampires (humans who have been turned through Vampire venom, like Jonah) from their Pureblood masters. Her connection with Gabriel and chemistry with Jonah inspire jealousy in the two other female characters. Complicated Vampire and Angel mythologies and rules may inspire confusion in readers. The prose is plagued by awkward sentences, poor word choices and downright baffling sloppiness; for example: “My left arm lay heavy at my side; I could tell she hadn’t broken it, but she had at least fractured my bone.” The story has multiple mysteries—what, exactly, is Francesca, and how is she immortal; why are the Purebloods after her; what happened between her and Gabriel in her first life; and: Gabriel or Jonah? Unfortunately, the prologue answers the first question for all but the out-of-the-know characters, and Cessie’s back story heavily implies the second question’s answer. Her first-life mystery is more successful. Readers must wait for the next book to discover which guy she picks.
Overderivative and underedited. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-250-05151-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2014
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy.
A war between gods plays havoc with mortals and their everyday lives.
In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette. Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.
Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85743-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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