A detective haunted by his past and an engineer desperate to ensure her future become embroiled in a conspiracy in Lemelson’s debut urban fantasy novel.
In the wake of the Calamity, which left an irradiated crater in the middle of the continent, the wasteland border city of Huile has become a bustling hub for the production of “æther-oil,” a miraculous fuel source that also allows certain gifted people to bend physics to their will—a power nicknamed “the Knack.” The people of Huile fought a bitter revolution for their independence from imperial occupiers, and private detective Marcel Talwar, one disillusioned veteran who lost a leg during the conflict, is haunted by traumatic memories. He often investigates for Lazacorp, the city’s distributor of æther-oil. However, after the deaths of one of his former comrades and of a Lazacorp worker, Marcel looks into what’s going on with Lazacorp’s new water filtration plant, overseen by beloved industrialist and war hero Lazarus Roache. Meanwhile, in the engineering mecca of Icaria, a young engineer named Sylvaine becomes acquainted with Roache when he offers to become her patron. As a feral—a furred animal-person—she often faces discrimination, so she’s eager to accept Roache’s offer of “Slickdust,” a substance that awakens her Knack after years of failure. She and Marcel cross paths when they realize they’re both pawns in a struggle between strange and ancient forces. From the very start of the novel, Lemelson’s unique take on a postwar industrial fantasy world features memorable imagery (“You ever take a walk outside this city?” says Marcel at one point. “See the cracked land, the ruins, the oozing trees, the Demiurge-damned Wastes?”) and deftly realized worldbuilding. In its account of its dual protagonists’ struggles, the narrative unfolds at a controlled pace, swelling with tension at each new revelation while delivering intriguing information in an organic way. The result, expressed in Lemelson’s vibrant, witty, and often heartbreaking prose, is a page-turner that’s perfect for urban fantasy fans.
A gripping mystery with an exceptionally fleshed-out world.Pub Date: July 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-94-650140-0
Page Count: 380
Publisher: Tiny Fox Press LLC
Review Posted Online: July 31, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: FANTASY | GENERAL FANTASY | GENERAL FICTION
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A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.
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Exes pretend they’re still together for the sake of their friends on their annual summer vacation.
Wyn Connor and Harriet Kilpatrick were the perfect couple—until Wyn dumped Harriet for reasons she still doesn’t fully understand. They’ve been part of the same boisterous friend group since college, and they know that their breakup will devastate the others and make things more than a little awkward. So they keep it a secret from their friends and families—in fact, Harriet barely even admits it to herself, focusing instead on her grueling hours as a surgical resident. She’s ready for a vacation at her happy place—the Maine cottage she and her friends visit every summer. But (surprise!) Wyn is there too, and he and Harriet have to share a (very romantic) room and a bed. Telling the truth about their breakup is out of the question, because the cottage is up for sale, and this is the group’s last hurrah. Determined to make sure everyone has the perfect last trip, Harriet and Wyn resolve to fake their relationship for the week. The problem with this plan, of course, is that Harriet still has major feelings for Wyn—feelings that only get stronger as they pretend to be blissfully in love. As always, Henry’s dialogue is sparkling and the banter between characters is snappy and hilarious. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels achingly real. Their breakup, as well as their complicated relationships with their own families, adds a twinge of melancholy, as do the relatable growing pains of a group of friends whose lives are taking them in different directions.
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780593441275
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
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The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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