A big, bold, high-cost end to a lush quartet.
Otherworld politics threaten love in this series conclusion.
The Righteous (2021) left the heroes in disarray and the Winter Court of the Sylvan Wyld on the cusp of war with the Summer Court of the Sylvan Vale. The Wyld’s leadership vacuum results in pushes for Bastien to reclaim his family’s ancestral seat, the Ice Throne—and custody of a powerful mirror with control over time. But everything comes at a price, and the intriguing seductions of the mirror have ruined many before him. He learns of the dark plans that the Lady of the Vale has for Celine, her daughter, but he fears Celine won’t believe him. His insistence on lies and secrecy do him no favors with Celine, who’s understandably conflicted: attracted to the power of being Lady Silla’s heir, tired of people controlling her, yearning for connection with her mother, and grieving the loss of Pippa, who is presumed dead. At times, the characters’ decisions may frustrate readers, but even their most irrational moments are justified by circumstances and emotional states. Personal growth drives the plot and deftly separates heroes from villains. The final showdown is a big one in its consequences both to the fey Otherworld and New Orleans, the city Sebastien and Celine love. No one escapes unscathed, but time may heal some wounds. The fey world is diverse in sexuality and race; discrimination exists on the basis of human parentage and court affiliation.
A big, bold, high-cost end to a lush quartet. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-984812-64-3
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
A spectacular return to a magical world.
Following the events of Impossible Creatures (2024), a devoted Guardian teams up with a brave princess to fight her power-hungry uncle and save the Archipelago’s dragons from a strange new threat.
Jacques the dragon summons Christopher Forrester back to the Archipelago from the human world: Dragons are dying, and no one knows why. Meanwhile, on the island of Dousha, Princess Anya’s grandfather, King Halam, has been murdered, and her father accused—though she knows he’s innocent. When Christopher and Anya take refuge on the islet of Glimt, the Berserker Nighthand helps them see how their twin missions to save the dragons and free Anya’s father are connected. They work together to create an antidote for the poison that’s killing the dragons and to keep Anya and her father safe from her murderous uncle. Meanwhile, Nighthand and Irian, the part-nereid ocean scholar, pursue their own important secret mission. Divided into three parts—“Castle,” “Dragons,” and “Revenge”—and containing elements of fairy tales, fantasy, and Shakespeare, this story continues the storyline established in the series opener, yet because it introduces new characters and obstacles, it could also stand alone. Dark-blond Anya (“five feet tall and all of it claws”) is a match for white-presenting Christopher, who, though he still misses Mal, finds that “it made a difference to have someone to move through the world with again. A friend changed the feel of the universe.” Mackenzie’s delicate, otherworldly art adorns the text.
A spectacular return to a magical world. (map, bestiary) (Fantasy. 10-15)Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9780593809907
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
PROFILES
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization.
Ellis Mitchell has her whole life planned out.
Heading into senior year, Ellis plans to study hard and crush it at the journalism internship her media executive dad got her, paving the way for her acceptance to Columbia University. But then Ellis’ parents announce they’re separating—and that Ellis and her mom will be heading to Bramble Falls to stay with her aunt and cousin. Furious that her careful plans have been upended, Ellis struggles to settle into the small, charming Connecticut town even as everyone around her gears up for the annual Falling Leaves Festival. Ellis runs into Cooper Barnett—her long-ago summer friend from visits to Aunt Naomi and cousin Sloane—who’s grown up to be very handsome. But Cooper isn’t pleased to see Ellis; he’s cold and curt, and she has no idea why. Wilson’s YA debut is chock-full of charm. Readers will swoon at Cooper’s and Ellis’ developing feelings following their frosty reunion and sympathize with Ellis’ difficulties even as Bramble Falls grows on her. She must choose between small-town community ties and big-city ambitions—between what her dad wants for her and what she really wants. Ellis’ relationships with her mom, aunt, and cousin are lovely and aspirational. The depiction of Bramble Falls is evocative, and the book contains enough seasonal delights to satisfy even the most devoted pumpkin spice latte lover. Main characters are cued white.
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781665975209
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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