Surreal and beautiful.
In the long-standing war between humans and demons, a soldier and an exorcist come together—with unexpected consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Selene Alleva, a captain and Exorcist Second Class known as “the Butcher of Rome,” is a powerful destroyer of demons. Cesare Alleva, Selene’s exorcist uncle and the Imperium Bellum commanding the Vatican’s military, sends her on a mission to investigate the destruction of a village near Nice, believed to be the work of a high-level demon. Selene is horrified to discover that the responsible party is Baliel, the “first and greatest” among the demons of his level. Nineteen-year-old French soldier Jules Lacroix has been battling demons in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, for four years. A formidable foe, Jules tracks his kills by cutting his forearms, leaving rows of scars. But following an attack by a demon horde, Jules has an unsettling encounter with their leader, half-demon Anastasia Alexandrova Romanov, tsarina of the Caspian Federation; he flees, becoming a deserter. Selene and Jules cross paths, initially clashing with and irritating one another but eventually agreeing to work together to achieve their personal goals. Clark’s gritty, intricately developed world may seem bleak yet love and determination shine through. The evolving relationship between Selene and Jules is enticing, combining barbed exchanges with angst, before their emotional and physical surrender. The somewhat open-ended conclusion sets up for the next entry in this duology. Most characters are cued white.
Surreal and beautiful. (content note, map, hierarchy of the Holy Vatican Empire, Vatican Academy handbook excerpt, dramatis personae) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9780593810729
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
A classic rags-to-riches romantic comedy with irresistible chemistry and heart.
A surprise inheritance thrusts a small-town Nebraska teen into Manhattan’s elite society—and the orbit of a boy who’s determined to prove she doesn’t belong.
Julia Lowell’s life changes overnight when the 80-something man they know as Lou leaves his fortune to her family instead of his New York City relatives. Lou, who lived in a fishing cabin, was a regular customer of the Lowells’ small grocery store and became a family friend. To inherit, they must live in his Upper West Side home for at least six months, and Julia and her twin brother must attend Gardenwood Academy, a Gossip Girl–esque private school. Julia struggles to navigate her rude, privileged classmates—like Damion Rutledge. Unbeknownst to her, Lou—whose real name was Remington—was Damion’s beloved great-uncle. When a teacher assigns Damion to be Julia’s math tutor, he seizes the opportunity to search Uncle Remi’s house, which he believes is his by right, for evidence of the Lowells’ deceit. But as suspicion gives way to genuine feelings, Julia and Damion, who are cued white, question their assumptions about one another. Painter delivers her signature blend of banter, slow-burn chemistry, and emotionally grounded characters. Told in the leads’ alternating points of view, the familiar enemies-to-lovers setup is complicated by Damion’s secret and Julia’s past heartbreak. While the story follows a predictable path and resolution, the central relationship feels earned and heartfelt.
A classic rags-to-riches romantic comedy with irresistible chemistry and heart. (soundtrack) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9798347100217
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
