This convoluted episode seems to wrap up the trilogy, though there is a hint that the archangels might be needed again;...
Two teen archangels continue the fight to save mankind and themselves from demonic takeover.
The archangels, no longer fledglings, are both in college, apparently white in their contemporary forms. This third installment of Duncan’s Revelation saga finds archangel Gabriel—Gabe—lost in the apocalyptic Dark Realm, where he must face the intense allure of the dark power within him. Micah, the female incarnation of archangel Michael, concerns herself with Mastema, who in his depthless fury has a habit of disguising himself by residing in rotting human flesh. The archangels race to close the portal connecting the realms so as to prevent Mastema from releasing hell on Earth. Duncan, again drawing from Jewish traditions, also brings to action the massive beasts Behemoth and Leviathan to do ultimate battle with Gabe and Micah. By now, Gabe and Micah’s relationship has moved from flickering romance into a deep friendship. The tale puts forward the principal that balance requires both light and darkness, good and evil. The third-person narrative, however, devolves into a shambles, swinging between times, locations, and the archangel’s doom-ridden visions so often that readers will find that making sense of the events becomes their preoccupation.
This convoluted episode seems to wrap up the trilogy, though there is a hint that the archangels might be needed again; whether readers will respond is another question entirely. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-60542-609-9
Page Count: 318
Publisher: Medallion Press
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
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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