An intriguing story about the rot that lies beneath splendor.
On Lord Prosper’s island the very air pulsates with magic.
His beautiful, ruthless descendants are provided for by the grace of a magical substance known as aether. But their servants, the island’s captive spirits, are beginning to mysteriously sicken and die off. “Mousy Mae” Wilson stands as an outsider. The orphaned daughter of Prosper’s old friend who will be in exile on her 18th birthday, Mae loves, fears, and desires the family and the land she’s always called home and is anxious about leaving it. That is, until the legendary once-a-year party known as First Night, during which outsiders arrive on the island. Mae is suddenly thrust into a surprise engagement to strange, sullen Ivo, Prosper’s grandson and the heir to his magic. Cohoe’s prose moves at a clip through a night packed with intrigue. Mae’s shifting stance in relation to the family as their confidant, enemy, and friend develops alongside the intricate, fascinating system of dangerous magic. The real mystery is who Mae herself will become as she climbs the social ladder into the glorious world of power and secrets she’s long observed from a distance. Will she grow to be an intrepid schemer who is the equal of any Prosper? Fans of Shakespeare’s The Tempest will find much to enjoy, as will readers eager for a luxurious—but not escapist—1920s period piece. Characters read as White.
An intriguing story about the rot that lies beneath splendor. (family tree) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-76884-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 29, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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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