A strong cast of laudable characters drives this riveting dystopian tale.
An elven heir’s return to her birthplace puts her and others in serious danger in this debut YA fantasy.
Seventeen years ago, Arina was born to elven royalty and whisked to safety as a war raged on. She’s been raised by Ordinaries (humans) on a peaceful farm but now feels it’s time to go back to the city of Galanthus. She travels there with her adoptive human parents and beloved sister, Violet. Arina, a striking figure with “pale, almost-translucent skin” and silver hair, moves fluidly like an animal, “in contrast with the clumsiness of humans.” Galanthus remains a dreary land of grays where plants don’t grow, indicative of an Earth that’s been slowly dying since the humans overthrew the elves. According to a prophecy, a savior (Arina, perhaps) will bring life back to the world. For whatever reason, that may not be what the city’s human president wants, or the Order of the Pure, which essentially monitors and polices Otherworldlies (elves and possibly orcs and dwarves, too). But Zac Caster, the president’s son who takes a shine to Arina, unearths a sinister plot that seemingly threatens the elven heir and people close to her. Blignaut masterfully blends exposition with a kinetic pace. For example, Arina and her adoptive family are already on their way to Galanthus as readers get details on the Ordinaries’ revolution and Arina’s empathlike ability. The cast is simply outstanding—Arina and Violet, who possess an endearing sisterly dynamic; the instantly likable Zac, who has an unexpected connection to the heir; and the ill-disposed and human-hating elf Raine, who knew Arina’s birth parents. Because of Galanthus’ overwhelming grayness, other colors really pop, from green synthetic lawns to Zac’s mother’s yellow quilt and Violet’s purple eyes. The latter half of the tale amps up suspense, as the villains gradually become more obvious. Plot turns likewise abound; a couple of those are predictable but continue to aptly energize this narrative. While readers may be hoping for more answers in the final act, the ending definitely hints at a sequel.
A strong cast of laudable characters drives this riveting dystopian tale.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 6, 2025
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
A dark and gripping feminist tale.
A young woman faces her past to discover the truth about one of her nation’s heroes.
When Effy Sayre, the only female architecture student at her university in Llyr, wins the competition to design Hiraeth Manor for the estate of the late Emrys Myrddin, national literary figure and her favorite author, it is the perfect opportunity to leave behind a recent trauma. She arrives to find the cliffside estate is literally crumbling into the ocean, and she quickly realizes things may not be as they seem. Preston, an arrogant literature student, is also working at the estate, gathering materials for the university’s archives and questioning everything Effy knows about Myrddin. When Preston offers to include her name on his thesis—which may allow her to pursue the dream of studying literature that was frustrated by the university’s refusal to admit women literature students—Effy agrees to help him. He’s on a quest for answers about the source of Myrddin’s most famous work, Angharad, a romance about a cruel Fairy King who marries a mortal woman. Meanwhile, Myrddin’s son has secrets of his own. Preston and Effy start to suspect that Myrddin’s fairy tales may hold more truth than they realize. The Welsh-inspired setting is impressively atmospheric, and while some of the mythology ends up feeling extraneous, the worldbuilding is immersive and thoughtfully addresses misogyny and its effects on how history is written. Main characters are cued white.
A dark and gripping feminist tale. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780063211506
Page Count: 384
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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