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THE BURNING GOD

A dark and devastating conclusion that transcends its roots in historical fact to examine brutal truths.

In the final installment of the Poppy War trilogy, a warrior shaman resolves to seize control of her homeland from enemies far and near, no matter the cost.

Having suffered severe losses and betrayals, Rin rallies the Southern Coalition in an effort to defeat the Mugenese troops still in Nikan, the president of the Nikara Republic, and the foreign menace of the Hesperians, with their almost unimaginably advanced technology. But a southern army is not enough, and Rin must also rely on the unpredictable powers of her wild god, the Phoenix, and form a risky alliance with the Trifecta that once ruled Nikan. Drawing heavily on 20th-century Chinese history, Kuang continues to explore familiar themes—including imperialism, racism, colorism, and the terrible and long-lasting effects of war—while deepening Rin’s portrayal, as Rin experiences moments of heartfelt sympathy and connection with others while also continually seeking power and succumbing over and over to her own hubris and paranoia. This installment dwells heavily on the devastating realities of war and the costs of leading a nation in crisis but does not sink into overly grotesque meditations—or perhaps we, along with Rin, have become desensitized and hardened. Ultimately, despite the epic scope of the plot, the novel hinges on the relationships between Rin and those closest to her: A nation may rise or fall and thousands may lose their homes or starve in the process, but their fate depends not on magic from the divine plane but on simple, fallible people.

A dark and devastating conclusion that transcends its roots in historical fact to examine brutal truths. (Map, Dramatis Personae)

Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-06-266262-0

Page Count: 640

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020

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FOR THE WOLF

A masterful debut from a must-read new voice in fantasy.

Twin princesses—one fated to become a queen, the other a martyr—find themselves caught up in an unexpected battle of dark magic and ancient gods.

Four hundred years ago, a Valleydan princess facing a loveless betrothal sought refuge in the Wilderwood with her lover, the Wolf. The legendary Five Kings—including her father and her husband-to-be—pursued them only to be trapped in the Wilderwood. Now, according to legend, the only hope of restoring the Five Kings to power lies in the ritual sacrifice of every Second Daughter born to Valleyda's queen. There hasn't been a second daughter for 100 years—until now. On her 20th birthday, Redarys accepts her fate and walks into the Wilderwood to become the Wolf's next victim only to find that the stories she grew up on were lies. The handsome man who lives in a crumbling castle deep in the forest is not the original Wolf but his son, and he wants nothing to do with Red or her sacrifice. Afraid of her wild magic abilities and the danger they pose to her sister, Neverah, Red refuses to leave the Wilderwood. Instead, she clings to the new Wolf, Eammon, who will do whatever it takes to protect her from the grisly fate of the other Second Daughters. Meanwhile, in the Valleydan capital, Neve's desperation to bring her sister home sets her on a path that may spell disaster for Red, Eammon, and the Wilderwood itself. Whitten weaves a captivating tale in this debut, in which even secondary characters come to feel like old friends. The novel seamlessly blends "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Beauty and the Beast" into an un-put-down-able fairy tale that traces the boundaries of duty, love, and loss.

A masterful debut from a must-read new voice in fantasy.

Pub Date: June 1, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-316-59278-9

Page Count: 448

Publisher: Orbit

Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021

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THE JASAD HEIR

A promising series starter that strikes a keen balance between court intrigue and romance.

Circumstances force a lost kingdom's uncrowned queen into a gambit of court intrigue in this Egypt-inspired debut.

Ten years after Jasad fell, its people live in hiding within the four nations that conspired against their homeland. The Jasadis were the last people in the world to possess magical abilities; to be outed as Jasadi is to face summary execution. Essiya is the heir to the Jasadi throne. Now calling herself Sylvia, the 20-year-old hides her magic behind a pair of invisible bracelets that help stifle its power. When her cousin Felix of Omal throws a young girl under his horses' hooves, Sylvia's magic flares, sending a dagger into Felix's leg...right in front of Arin, the Nizahl Heir, who has the power to sense magic via touch. Rather than apprehend her, Arin saves Sylvia's life by naming her his Champion in the upcoming Alcalah, a tournament pitting fighters from the four remaining nations against each other for honor and glory. Keeping her identity a secret proves more difficult the longer Sylvia remains in the competition, however. Arin and Sylvia's undeniable chemistry eventually pays off at the end of a very long, very slow burn, but Hashem never lets the story stray far from the heroine's journey. The novel's Egyptian inspiration maintains a strong presence throughout the narrative; a number of Arabic words, such as wilayah, khawagai, Qayida, and Awaleen, appear frequently. Sylvia is coded as a person of Middle Eastern descent, and Arin is White. Several secondary characters are Black-coded. Similarities between character and state names, most of which have only two syllables, have the potential to create confusion early on as Hashem introduces the major players and their world; readers may find themselves confusing Niphran, Niyar, and Nizahl, for example, or Mahair, Malik, and Marek. Readers looking for a new fantasy series to latch onto will find much to love here.

A promising series starter that strikes a keen balance between court intrigue and romance.

Pub Date: July 18, 2023

ISBN: 9780316477864

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Orbit

Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023

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