Resonating fodder for the heart and brain; an utter feast for the eyes.
In a dystopic near-future, teens figure out how to bridge the great divide between haves and have-nots.
Nault, who created the graphic novel adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale, debuts her original graphic novel set in a new world beset by rising waters. Privileged Jules, who has pale, rosy skin and white hair, lives in the Uplands “at the top of the city,” neglected by her famous actor mother. She’s an aspiring ceramist who’s working on an upcoming exhibit in between glamorous evening outings with friends, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for school. Brown-skinned, red-haired Paolo and his parents live in the Flats, where crowded ramshackle buildings perch on stilts above open water. There, Paolo paints with his kitty, Miró, by his side, and joins his family in diving for treasures scavenged from a submerged city. Paolo finds a suitcase containing a pristine vintage wardrobe—exactly the threads that could get him in with the Uplands crowds he follows on social media. Boy meets girl: But what’s the fate of a relationship that’s dependent on lies? Beyond the love story, Nault’s narrative deftly confronts socioeconomic barriers, inadequate parenting, environmental devastation, bioengineering, and the tremendous power of art. Her inviting ink and watercolor illustrations are a spectacular blend of vibrancy and shadow, brilliantly catching motion within and without panels, particularly emotions on upturned faces and sideways glances.
Resonating fodder for the heart and brain; an utter feast for the eyes. (Graphic romance. 14-18)Pub Date: July 21, 2026
ISBN: 9781984863393
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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