An inventive, wholesome adventure steeped in mythology but hampered by uneven prose.
A debut YA novel sees a Canadian hockey fanatic tasked with keeping the Arthurian sorceress Morgana from escaping her magical prison.
Twenty-four-year-old filmmaker Ian Dekker lives in Toronto. He has just successfully unveiled his first feature—a hockey biopic—when a letter from his grandfather’s attorneys calls him back to the family house in Montreal. Ian was close to his grandfather growing up. Now, 13 years after his grandfather’s death, Ian is charged with carrying on his legacy—a secret double life in which old magic is kept at bay. Through his grandfather, Ian is descended from the Pendragon family, the royal bloodline that gave rise to King Arthur and Morgana, the dark apprentice of the wizard Merlin. For hundreds of years, Morgana has been trapped in the hilted jewel of the sword Excalibur. Now, aided by the 17th-century witch Abigail Williams, Morgana is on the verge of breaking free. Ian is out of his depth. He is pursued by Morganian Monks (malevolent magicians) and has only his grandfather’s journal and a scattering of clues to guide him. Will his happy childhood memories give him the strength necessary to vanquish Morgana? Bell writes as an omniscient narrator and with an eye to exposition, leaving readers scant mysteries to solve. Ian is a virtuous character but not especially proactive. Much of what he learns is through information dumps. The story is fundamentally imaginative—successfully marrying Arthurian legend with modern-day Canada. But the characters evince no shades of gray. In Ian’s world, there are good and evil. The only ambiguity comes when the latter takes possession of the former. The plot moves quickly but is let down by less-than-slick prose and dialogue. For example: “Lorne drove into an underground parking garage that led to the destination Ian was headed to. The building above the garage housed these offices, and it was also connected to the aforementioned Underground City. The offices they headed for were a long way up, located on the 29th floor, and the elevator ride seemed to never end.” Although the delivery lacks flavor, the book has an underlying piquancy and is not without positives—most notably, Ian’s strong relationship with his mother. Younger readers may find the story engaging.
An inventive, wholesome adventure steeped in mythology but hampered by uneven prose.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-5255-7762-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself.
In this debut by YouTuber Impicciche, a young siren princess is faced with a mission she cannot refuse.
Celeste’s mother, Queen Halia, has always considered her to be too emotional—like the irrational humans. In order to prove herself, Celeste has spent several cycles, the sirens’ unit of time, training to become a member of the Chorus, a militarized unit that patrols the seas. Before her final test, Celeste comes across an attractive human prince, Raiden, whose father is King Leonidas—her mother’s sworn enemy. She ends up saving Raiden’s life, but when her mother learns of her transgression, she offers Celeste the chance to go on a mission that requires her to become human and avoid being executed for treason. The narrative, which initially is strongly reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid,” has some slower moments and repetitive elements that are offset by witty commentary that helps engage readers. The opening drags, but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Impicciche does a good job of creating a detailed world of siren customs and traditions. Her characters exhibit emotional depth, conveying what it feels like to be lost and betrayed. Sirens have skin of varying colors, including blue, purple, and green; Celeste’s skin is “soft peach.” Raiden presents white, and there’s racial diversity among other humans.
After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9798212980906
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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