Highly enjoyable, engrossing escapism.
After Havenfall (2020), Maddie’s determined to fight the soul trade.
The defeated Silver Prince is still out there and therefore still a threat to the Inn at Havenfall—and so recovering Innkeeper Marcus is focusing on stabilizing the diplomacy of the realms’ peace summit and protecting the inn. By contrast, Maddie searches for leads on the soul trade (captured Solarians have parts of their souls put in silver objects to enchant them), including visiting her mother on death row to learn the full truth about when her adopted Solarian brother was abducted. The story frequently circles back to an old Fiordenkill fairy tale involving a set of armor made out of phoenix flame, a magical substance that enables wearers to safely travel to other realms. Though some plot elements rely on credibility-straining decisions (such as Maddie’s being allowed on a mission she’s not qualified for) and coincidences, the expanded settings, quick pacing, and compelling characters (with complicated emotional ties and suspiciousness) give readers plenty of incentive to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the ride. The romantic storyline is well incorporated into the main plot, which itself combines multiple threads smoothly for a climax that soundly handles an imminent problem and sets up for a changed status quo for a next book. While many characters are not described, most who are default to White.
Highly enjoyable, engrossing escapism. (introduction to the Adjacent Realms, bonus chapter) (Fantasy. 12-adult)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0382-4
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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
BOOK REVIEW
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
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