A provoking, attention-grabbing debut.
An 18-year-old Elven girl accepts the dangers that accompany an invitation to help save the people of her kingdom.
Lyria has grown up in seclusion in the Ironwood Mountains, home to the Elven kingdom of Evermore until 300 years ago, when a human tyrant stole the land and forced the Elves into hiding. Lyria yearns for freedom and a sense of purpose, which she lacks under her over-protective mother’s watch. One day, she responds to a cry for help from somewhere in the forest and saves a boy from an attack by a monster. He’s revealed to be Prince Finneas—and he asks Lyria to become an apothecary and help fight the plague that threatens Crown City. She enters the palace pretending to be human, but her bloodborne Talent—magic that fearful people tried to wipe out and which is now rare among Elves—isn’t always in her control. The threat of discovery is real, especially when Lyria meets Cygnus, the Head Healer, who takes an instant dislike to her. But not everything is as it seems—not the palace, not Finn, and not even herself. This duology opener has easy-to-follow worldbuilding and enough twists and turns to keep the plot moving. Lyria is both strong and emotional, uncertain of herself even while she accepts many challenges. Cygnus and Finn are opposites, creating a delightful tension. Main characters present white.
A provoking, attention-grabbing debut. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781368117517
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026
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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