Political intrigue and suspense frame this smart, satisfying page-turner.
A fierce, wronged woman pursues revenge—although perhaps she’s after the wrong person.
Everyone is happy to see the heir to the throne of Vasilios become engaged to his beautiful fiancee—everyone except for the forgotten young woman who was supposed to be the crown princess. After Lady Medea unfairly loses her position to the bubbly Psyche, her anger continues to simmer until she decides to take action, unconcerned by Psyche’s attempts to foster a friendship between them. The two young women get into a fight in a temple, Psyche pushes Medea into the water, and as she goes under, Medea beseeches the guardian deity of Vasilios: “Give me the chance to rule instead of this foolish wench. Give me everything she has!” When Medea comes to, she discovers that she and Psyche have switched bodies. While Psyche is terrified, Medea finds the events hilarious—that is, until she sees a darker side to the prince. As Medea continues to uncover layer upon layer of conspiracy, she realizes that surviving as Psyche might be more challenging than she imagined. In this thrilling and engrossing compilation of the first 12 episodes of a popular WEBTOON series, the full-color illustrations effectively use the contrast between dark and light. As the story unfolds, the characters develop in complexity, and their relationships grow more intricate. The cast members in this pseudo-European world are light-skinned.
Political intrigue and suspense frame this smart, satisfying page-turner. (Manga. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781998854790
Page Count: 288
Publisher: WEBTOON Unscrolled
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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
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
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