by Sara Holland ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 31, 2018
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
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by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2013
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
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