A thematically powerful ride.
While threats still loom after Zodiac (2014), vilified Rho must pick up the pieces.
On a Cancrian colony on the surface of the Capricorns’ planet, Rho is haunted by both the deaths she’s seen and the ones she feels responsible for, as well as dealing with the dramatic reversal of public opinion toward her. She also learns the reason why the armada fell apart: sabotage by Risers, those born in one House who shift to another. Furthermore, the Riser population is rising. The Risers—mentioned in the first book—become a major plot point here, leading to thought-provoking dilemmas about how to handle violence coming from oppressed minorities. Rho—still flawed and nuanced, a delightfully conflicted reluctant leader—struggles to find her voice again after having been so thoroughly shut down. Making it difficult is what she has to report: nemesis Ophiuchus reaches out to her with a terrible warning, as well as an offer, and Rho doesn’t know if she should trust him. She doesn’t have much time to decide; terrorist group Marad is ramping up the violence and the brutality. While this story unfolds, Rho pieces her way through the Trinary Axis chapter of Zodiac history that was hinted at as terrible in the first installment, finding parallels that help shape her character development. After twists, action, and heartbreak, the ending sets up the next in the series.
A thematically powerful ride. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-59514-743-1
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A fantastically rewarding sequel.
She was once merely a sacrifice to the gods, but now she has a chance to rule.
Zahru is certain her story has reached the happy ending she deserves. She survived the Crossing, when she was nearly killed as a sacrifice to the gods; Prince Kasta is gone; and her maybe-boyfriend, Prince Jet, is now ready to be crowned the new ruler of Orkena—while Zahru gets to live her life quietly and consume lots (and lots) of chocolate. But on the day of the coronation, Kasta returns, and, inconceivably, he has the circle of Numet, the mark indicating he is the rightful heir to the throne. The problem is Zahru has the same mark, accompanied by a different kind of magic coursing through her veins, which makes her a contender for the throne as well. And gods help her, but she will do whatever it takes to not let the ruthless, lying Kasta win— even if she must become the villain of her own story. In this charming, well-rounded follow-up to The Kinder Poison (2020), Zahru’s entertaining, funny narrative voice continues to engage and balance out the otherwise heavier tone of a story that deals with power dynamics, dark magic, horrific betrayals, and social injustice and that offers a thoughtful examination of just what a ruler should be willing to sacrifice for the greater good. The cast is diverse in skin tone and sexuality.
A fantastically rewarding sequel. (glossary) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-984835-24-6
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Peak champagne-filled indulgence. “Malec” shippers will clamor for installments to come.
One true pair Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood get their own spinoff series.
Even when he’s on a glamorous and romantic holiday in Europe with his boyfriend, Alec, Downworlder excitement still finds its way to Magnus. This time, the immortal, bisexual, and biracial (Dutch/Indonesian) warlock stands accused of founding a human cult—the Crimson Hand—in the name of his demon father, Asmodeus. A mysterious gap in Magnus’ memories keeps the truth at bay. Rather than turning Magnus in to his fellow Shadowhunters for questioning, Alec stays loyal to his man. Sexual tension abounds as the two steal moments of sizzling romance while fighting demons and solving the mystery. Though ostentatious in description, setting, and detail, Chu (The Fall of Io, 2019, etc.) and Clare’s (Queen of Air and Darkness, 2018, etc.) collaboration effectively balances star-crossed love with a contagious spirit of fun. While the book-length focus pulls these former secondary characters deservedly into the spotlight, its authenticity is marred by the excessive cologne of its clichéd Adonises. However, the shifting third-person narration deepens characterization by exploring Alec’s internalized homophobia and Magnus’ past. The acknowledgments place the book within the timeline of the City of Fallen Angels (Clare, 2011). The cast of secondary characters notably includes additional queer characters as well as Shinyun Jung, a Korean warlock.
Peak champagne-filled indulgence. “Malec” shippers will clamor for installments to come. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9508-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Jan. 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
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