A smashing ending to a trilogy that began with problematic body hatred but developed into the stellar journey of a girl who...
A queen can defeat the conde who stole her throne, but it means nothing if her land is destroyed by fire-throwing invaders.
Queen Lucero-Elisa né Riqueza de Vega—Elisa to her friends—has lost her throne, her bodyguard/nurse and her beloved (The Crown of Embers, 2012). All she has left is the Godstone in her navel, and it’s brimming with more power than ever before. Slowed by the need to protect a helpless child, trained in magic by a failed sorcerer, threatened even by the weather—she’s traveled so far ice falls from the sky!—Elisa knows her first priority is to protect her country from the invading Invierno animagi. The Inviernos, tall, fair-skinned and not-quite human, believe that generations ago, Elisa’s people came to this land and destroyed their magical birthright; now they want revenge. Despite the Godstone marking her as a once-in-a-century prophesied heroine, Elisa must save the day with her “only lasting power,” her smarts. This well-read girl spent her childhood studying warfare and international diplomacy and has the skills to lead both a war party and a country. Her foretold destiny is resolved with a marvelous and refreshing twist on literary tropes.
A smashing ending to a trilogy that began with problematic body hatred but developed into the stellar journey of a girl who would be queen . (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-202654-5
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: April 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod.
Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?
Cass is proudly queer, happily fat, and extremely secretive about being a fan who role-plays on Discord. Back in middle school, she had what she calls a gaming addiction, playing “The Sims” so much her parents had to take the game away. Now, turning to her role-play friends to cope with her fighting parents, she worries that people will judge her for her fannishness and online life. To be fair, her grades are suffering. And sure, maybe she’s missed a college application deadline. Also, her mom has suddenly left Minneapolis and moved to Maine to be with a man she met online. But on the other hand, Cass is finally dating her amazingly cute longtime crush, Taylor. Pansexual Taylor is a gamer, a little bit punk, White like Cass, and so, so great—but she still can’t help comparing her to Rowan, Cass’ online best friend and role-playing ship partner. But Rowan doesn’t want to be a dirty little secret and doesn’t see why Cass can’t be honest about this part of her life. The inevitable train wreck of her lies looms on the horizon for months in an overlong morality play building to the climax that includes tidy resolutions to all the character arcs that are quite heartwarming but, in the case of Cass’ estranged mother, narratively unearned.
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-324332-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
An entertaining fantasy set in a world that readers will want to revisit.
Brie risks the deadly land of the Fae to save her sister.
Brie doesn’t trust many people other than Jas, her eternally hopeful sister, and Sebastian, mage apprentice and Brie’s secret love (as if she had time for romance). Brie struggles to meet the payments for the magical contracts binding their lives to Madame Vivias, supplementing her cleaning work by stealing from the rich. While the land of Faerie tempts other girls with word of a castle, a lavish ball, and a fae prince seeking a wife, Brie mistrusts the creatures who capitalize on humanity’s greed. When Jas’ contract is sold to the fae, Brie braves the golden Seelie queen’s court, meets the noble Prince Ronan, and travels on to the Unseelie king’s shadow court. In the process she discovers love, historical secrets, atrocities, and her own hidden strength. While many elements regarding the fae and a love triangle will feel familiar to fans of the genre, and the magic could have been more fleshed out, discussions of power, inequity, trust, and hope expand the worldbuilding in refreshing ways. Similarly, consideration of the balance between truth and secrets, lies and stories, is intriguing as it’s applied to characters, relationships, and historical lore. Despite certain predictable reveals, the plot itself, which starts off slowly, picks up and is pleasantly convoluted with multiple satisfying surprises. Major human characters read as White.
An entertaining fantasy set in a world that readers will want to revisit. (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: July 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-38657-5
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
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