A smart, complex, animal-based fantasy.
A Winnipeg teenager discovers her magical heritage—and that she’s marked for death.
Roan, a white girl, was taken in by her uncle and aunt after her parents died in a car accident when she was little. When what seems to be a chronic eye infection explodes into moths, she’s nearly taken by the Moth Queen into death and only barely saved by a talking fox who can transform into a woman with a fox head, nine tails, and fire magic. Roan’s guided by the fox, Sil, who gives her a crash course in a creation mythology that involves five creatures, now families, who keep peace and balance destructive powers. As Ancient power waned, a Celestial Darkling, Zabor, came into prominence, and a pact to appease her requires the five families to make sacrifices: Roan’s been marked as such. Roan must finish the task her mother started—defeating Zabor to end the deal—or she will die. Roan is genre-savvy to the hero’s journey, an intelligent heroine who gladly accepts information and help, and she is deeply concerned with avoiding casualties. She must pull together a group with representatives from each family despite the mind-influencing Owls’ stubborn, self-appointed duty to ensure their end of the bargain is upheld. Secondary characters are vibrant and multicultural (an Indian best friend and allies that include a black boy who uses a wheelchair and an Inuit girl), and the heroes have refreshingly good hearts. A reveal at the end sets up a sequel.
A smart, complex, animal-based fantasy. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Oct. 17, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-77041-357-3
Page Count: 440
Publisher: ECW Press
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
May well beguile readers with its mix of magic and political intrigue.
A princess fights to save her kingdom while trying to conceal her magic.
On the eve of her 17th birthday, Princess Jennesara learns of her betrothal to the prince of Turia, an alliance made by her father to secure the neighboring kingdom’s military support in quelling the fighting at his borders. Before she is sent away to safety in Turia, she learns of other worrying developments brewing at home: A burned letter references a search for the mages’ library, illicit magic is being used in skirmishes at the borders, and there is a potential betrayal within her father’s circle of trust. She frets, too, about her own secret magic being discovered, for only her older brother, Ren, is supposed to possess magic. On their way to Turia, Jenna’s party is ambushed and she narrowly escapes. She is forced to fend for herself and find her own way to Turia to discover who betrayed her family and what secrets lie in the rumored mages’ library. Jenna conceals her identity and ingratiates herself with her betrothed’s family as she eludes the threat of a shadowy, sinister foe. Though overflowing with common fantasy tropes and featuring lengthy expository passages, this series opener nevertheless features affable characters and moves at a solid clip that will keep readers entertained. Jenna’s people are fair-haired while Turians are olive-skinned with dark hair.
May well beguile readers with its mix of magic and political intrigue. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-11853-5
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
This is no didactic near-future warning of present evils, but a cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes
A gripping thriller in dystopic future Los Angeles.
Fifteen-year-olds June and Day live completely different lives in the glorious Republic. June is rich and brilliant, the only candidate ever to get a perfect score in the Trials, and is destined for a glowing career in the military. She looks forward to the day when she can join up and fight the Republic’s treacherous enemies east of the Dakotas. Day, on the other hand, is an anonymous street rat, a slum child who failed his own Trial. He's also the Republic's most wanted criminal, prone to stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. When tragedies strike both their families, the two brilliant teens are thrown into direct opposition. In alternating first-person narratives, Day and June experience coming-of-age adventures in the midst of spying, theft and daredevil combat. Their voices are distinct and richly drawn, from Day’s self-deprecating affection for others to June's Holmesian attention to detail. All the flavor of a post-apocalyptic setting—plagues, class warfare, maniacal soldiers—escalates to greater complexity while leaving space for further worldbuilding in the sequel.
This is no didactic near-future warning of present evils, but a cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes . (Science fiction. 12-14)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-399-25675-2
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: April 8, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
BOOK TO SCREEN
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