An appealing, otherworldly tale set in superlative realms—both real and fantastic.
In this third installment of a YA fantasy series, a teen’s unreliable magic may be the key to rescuing a kingdom threatened by mercenaries.
Peanut, 14, is the new prince of Romatica, or he will be once Queen Quila adopts him. She’ll soon wed Peanut’s uncle Pyck, but not everyone is happy about their impending vows. That’s because Pyck hails from Loorland, which Romatica’s now dead king tried conquering, only for the Looreans to defeat the Romatican army. The general of that vanquished army believes he should marry Quila; either way, he’s got plenty of mercenaries on his side to help seize her throne. Meanwhile, Peanut discovers he can wield magic like his uncle but can’t easily control his apparent power to manipulate gravity. But this ability may come in handy after someone finds a way to get rid of Caspen, “the agent of programmed cell death.” His absence could mean no more death, but the horrible repercussions outweigh the good, especially for a world with feuding soldiers and mercenaries. Peanut, in order to free Caspen from a black hole, must travel to the atom-sized world of Nanosia. Johnson, as always, aptly fuses science with fantasy in this volume. For example, even in the slightly larger Cenozonia, a DNA helix becomes a ladder while apoptosis-inducing factor agents police minuscule worlds. Though much of the story unfolds on regular-sized Earth, those portions are just as entertaining. The general’s obvious unrest slowly builds suspense as he sets his sights on—as Quila puts it—the “queendom” and blatantly threatens Pyck and others. Peanut is, at first, exasperating, as he endlessly complains about his royal attire, with a particular aversion to patent leather shoes. He’s nevertheless sympathetic, especially once the queen’s possible pregnancy seemingly ousts him as Romatica’s prince. Fortunately, the intrepid teen garners courage as the swiftly paced narrative progresses.
An appealing, otherworldly tale set in superlative realms—both real and fantastic.Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2020
ISBN: 979-8-56-722561-5
Page Count: 324
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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
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