An interesting premise but the execution lets it down.
Debut novelist Simmonds blends romance with fantasy in the first book in The Indigo Chronicles.
Nineteen-year-old half-Spanish, half-English Ella, who swears loudly and frequently, has recently moved from Spain to London following her mother’s marriage to a wealthy hotel owner. She hasn’t made any friends in London, and her mother mostly leaves Ella to herself as she becomes immersed in her new husband’s life. After a few seemingly accidental encounters with blue-eyed hot guy Zac where he comes to her rescue—helping to carry her books after they fall out of her bags, coming to her aid in an exclusive nightclub when she’s injured by a broken champagne glass—Ella falls for him. Zac, however, has long ago fallen for her. This is where the novel begins to feel contrived: It turns out Zac is harboring a life-changing secret, and when he reveals too much to Ella, they must run for their lives. Despite touching on some weighty topics, the novel remains firmly in romantic fantasy territory. While it may appeal to those who like their romance laced with a bit of grit, the writing lacks finesse, with pedestrian dialogue and characters whose feelings are spelled out in repetitive detail. The worldbuilding fails to be immersive, making it difficult for readers to suspend disbelief.
An interesting premise but the execution lets it down. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: May 28, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-947727-80-9
Page Count: 416
Publisher: BHC Press
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
Although Yusuf's short stories offer various insights into Somalia, the reader is left wanting for greater nuance in order...
Yusuf (Somalis in Minnesota, 2013), who grew up as a nomad in Somalia and arrived in the U.S. without a high school diploma, uses Somalia's geographical landscape and culture to create an intricate braid of short stories about family, identity, escape, destruction, and return.
In “The Mayxaano Chronicles,” a young woman struggles to find her place in a society that sees no value in her existence despite the skills, intelligence, and activism she demonstrates. “The Vulture Has Landed” offers a harrowing narrative of a young married woman who, while raising her younger sister, also prepares her for the inevitable visit of soldiers bent on revenge. The dream of a new start for himself and his family is what keeps Aar, in “A Delicate Hope,” from despairing over the disarray of life in Mogadishu. “The Lion’s Binding Oath” presents a fantastical relationship between a boy and a lion. Hassan, a high school student separated from his family whilst they flee their home during the civil war, finds himself accompanied by a lion. Despite some interesting situations, excessive dialogue often bogs down the storylines. At times, the lead protagonists are scuppered by other characters and fail to fully inhabit their space.
Although Yusuf's short stories offer various insights into Somalia, the reader is left wanting for greater nuance in order to come away with a more focused view of the country and its people. (Short stories. 16-adult)Pub Date: June 5, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-946395-07-8
Page Count: 220
Publisher: Catalyst Press
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
A potentially fascinating coming-of-age story that sadly misses its mark.
When her best friend, Ryan, goes missing, 14-year-old Lia struggles to figure out who she is without her other half.
In a tiny California town, Lia and Ryan are outcasts: Ryan was one of the first girls in their class to go through puberty, and Lia is one of a handful of black kids. In middle school, the two bonded over their mutual love of Exene, a powerful female punk rocker. For years, they have been inseparable—until Ryan falls in love with 19-year-old Neil and disappears, leaving Lia in a sexist, racist town that she’s not sure she can survive alone. Despite the promising premise, the treatment of oppression lacks subtlety, focusing on shocking incidents and ignoring the myriad ways racism, sexism, and classism affect everyday lives. Debut novelist Collins frequently reduces complex motivations to single, unconvincing incidents: Ryan’s brother, for example, becomes a white supremacist after a black boy humiliates him in a fistfight rather than because of his family’s declining class status, which would have been a fascinating (and highly relevant) motivation to explore. This is particularly disappointing since the text does have glimmers of poetry and real insight—as, for example, when Lia’s father hopes that the person responsible for his daughter’s friend’s disappearance is not black. In addition, the prose is clunky and verbose, making the pace feel slower than it is.
A potentially fascinating coming-of-age story that sadly misses its mark. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-948559-05-8
Page Count: 262
Publisher: Brain Mill Press
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
