A satisfyingly complex and magical introduction to a new world.
A powerless teen struggles to forge her own destiny in a tyrannical kingdom in this Chinese-inspired fantasy world.
In this series opener, Yining lives in a small village in the Iron Mountains, one of the Three Kingdoms, earning a meager living by pretending to be a fortune teller—and all the while yearning to make her own fortune and explore the outside world. Adopted as a child, she knows nothing about her birth parents and only has two possessions from her original life: a wooden ring and a threadbare handkerchief. Yining’s downtrodden life begins to change after she meets a talking carp in a pond, who reveals that she has a magical heritage connected to her ring—a “great gift and responsibility.” Having learned fighting skills from her now-deceased uncle and been taught to pickpocket by her abusive step-aunt, Yining embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads her to the Iron Mountains’ handsome Prince Zixin—and far beyond. The atmospheric descriptions slow the pacing, but they underscore Yining’s awareness of the beauty of palace life, which contrasts with the prince’s merciless rule. The themes of power, inequality, and truth ground this story, balancing the fantastical fairy-tale motifs that draw upon both Chinese and European tales. The romance, a slow-burn relationship that’s hampered by distrust, provides a nuanced exploration of love and power dynamics.
A satisfyingly complex and magical introduction to a new world. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780316576208
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
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