Directionless dips into the far-flung past don’t allow the underlying mythology to sing as it did in the previous...
To stop the Sorceress and save Sempera, Jules must unravel the tangled web of her past lives and keep those she loves at arm’s length.
Framed for the murders of the queen and her childhood friend Roan, Jules Ember is on the run. She is the Alchemist—the reborn ancient nemesis of the Sorceress, who is the true murderer, hiding in plain sight as Caro, the queen’s lady-in-waiting. Now Caro is bent on breaking Jules’ heart by killing everyone she cares about: If she succeeds, she believes she’ll take back the heart Jules stole from her centuries ago, restoring her full power. Jules embarks on a quest to unearth memories from her past lives, hoping to find the key to defeating Caro. Liam, Roan’s brother and an expert on the Alchemist, wants to help. But Jules, who is drawn to him, is torn, not wanting to risk his life. Each recovered memory leads Jules toward a weapon that could end this centuries-long battle, but finding out the truth proves as difficult as keeping her loved ones safe. Jules’ journey at first feels aimless, and her pursuit by the Sorceress far removed, lessening the tension. The reveal at the end returns the focus to the lore, where the story really soars, but it’s a too-winding road to reach it. All main characters are white.
Directionless dips into the far-flung past don’t allow the underlying mythology to sing as it did in the previous installment. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Dec. 31, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-265369-7
Page Count: 368
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2019
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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