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
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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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