Lavish and thrilling—a reward for readers who have awaited its release.
Chokshi channels National Treasure vibes in her intriguing follow-up to The Gilded Wolves (2019).
Haunted by the death of his brother, Séverin determinedly searches for the artifact he is certain will absolve him of both his sins and his humanity—The Divine Lyrics, a book which is rumored to contain the secret to rebuilding the Tower of Babel, thus promising godhood and erasing pain, suffering, and guilt. Séverin hardens his heart and conceals his true intentions, both to guard himself and to ensure he accomplishes his mission for the friends whom he longs to protect. Séverin’s cruel front most hurts Laila, his mistress-for-show, and she, in turn, hides her deepest secret from him. Séverin, Laila, and the rest of their team—Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos, patriarch of House Nyx—travel to a wintry Russia, where they are later joined by some unexpected cohorts, to explore the Sleeping Palace for The Divine Lyrics. This is a more cohesive and well-executed fantastical endeavor than its predecessor, allowing complex characterization to flourish—although the art of Forging, except for Laila’s ability to read objects with her hands, still seems vague. Themes, including visibility, grief, and sacrifice, permeate the story, driving it to breathtaking highs and heartbreaking lows. As before, the characters are richly diverse in ethnicity and sexual orientation; Zofia exhibits signs of being on the autism spectrum.
Lavish and thrilling—a reward for readers who have awaited its release. (Historical fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-14457-7
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Electrifying.
Amid rumors of impending war between Emberfall and Syhl Shallow, a radical faction of the Truthbringers forges a shocking alliance in this high-stakes series finale.
Following a deadly attack targeting human magic-users, or magesmiths, King Grey returned to Emberfall in hopes that leaving Syhl Shallow would protect his wife, young daughter, and subjects from harm. But physical separation creates new dangers for the sovereigns and their allies. The Truthbringers, who fear and hate magic, and a militant band of scravers, who are determined to reclaim and protect it, have found a common purpose—to destroy all magesmiths. Magic successfully functions as both a literal and figurative representation of power, physical ability, and otherness, drawing profound parallels to nationalist rhetoric that scapegoats vulnerable groups, as well as to themes of bodily autonomy and consent. Meanwhile, the four white-presenting primary narrators—Tycho and Jax (who has a prosthetic foot) in Emberfall and Callyn and Alek in Syhl Shallow—embark on reconnaissance missions for the king and queen. Each couple must also confront the individual histories, perspectives, and traumas that influence their relationships and choose whether to repeat or release old patterns. Kemmerer expertly weaves each narrator’s voice and vulnerable emotional progress into organic dialogue that promotes compassion, understanding, trust, and unity across differences, all while inexorably pulling her protagonists and plot threads toward a final standoff. Themes of sacrifice and courage in the face of terrible odds underpin a well-earned and gratifyingly thorough conclusion.
Electrifying. (map, character list) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9781547613458
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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