A dynamic mix of living mythology and a modern-day young hero in the making.
In Sargent’s YA fantasy novel, a teenage boy learns that his destiny lies in the world of Celtic legend.
This debut, the first in the author’s Sentry series, is barely underway when readers realize they’re in for a suspenseful ride. When 14-year-old Caleb, the novel’s first-person narrator, falls off a dock during a field trip to one of the Boston Harbor islands, his everyday life of school, friends, and obsession with Irish legends changes forever. Was Caleb really nearly drowned by a hideous creature and protected by a seal? And what is the meaning of his parents’ cryptic argument about telling Caleb something now rather than waiting for his upcoming 15th birthday? When his parents abruptly disappear on mysterious business, the strange, fearful behavior of his loving but unstable uncle, Seamus, culminates in their flight from Caleb’s Massachusetts home to a farmhouse in Canada (“If ye do no hurry,” Seamus tells him, “we’ll be dead before we get to the car”). Along the way, Caleb is attacked by what seems to be a runaway horse. It couldn’t have been a púca—a shape-shifting spirit out of Celtic folklore—could it? With this eventful setup, the author expertly mines Celtic mythology to catapult Caleb into a quest to keep the long-hidden four treasures of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann race, including a Sword of Light, from falling into the hands of the demonic Fomorians and the supernatural Dark Court. Caleb’s struggle to accept not only the magical realms he finds himself in, but his hereditary role tied to the legend of the great warrior Cú Chulainn, takes him to Ireland and into an epic, subterranean battle, rendered in cinematic detail, with the safety of his parents—and the world—at stake. This exciting fantasy, encompassing friendships, a devastating betrayal, elves, leprechauns, ancient texts, and a young protagonist finding his own strength of purpose, is enjoyable for anyone who appreciates well-written YA fiction. The ending offers a welcome hint of more high-stakes adventures for Caleb to come.
A dynamic mix of living mythology and a modern-day young hero in the making.Pub Date: June 10, 2023
ISBN: 9798988181705
Page Count: 284
Publisher: Red Branch Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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