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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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