Magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love collide in Mafi’s tale inspired by Islamic tradition and the Persian epic poem the Shahnameh.
Ever since the fall of Iblees, a Jinn and being of fire who rebelled against God’s creation of humans, all Jinn-kind have been forsaken by a universe that bore witness to the fall of their civilization and humanity’s inheritance of the world. Though the kingdom of Ardunia’s Fire Accords established a tenuous peace between the two races, ingrained hatred for those associated with the devil resulted in the exploitation of Jinn and curtailing of their abilities. Alizeh, a Jinn working as a servant in a noble house, hopes for a reprieve from her state of destitution, grief over her parents’ deaths, and flight from constant persecution. Because in addition to being Jinn, ice also runs through Alizeh’s blood, marking her as the heir to a lost kingdom whose power will lead to the unification and liberation of her people. When Prince Kamran discovers Alizeh, he cannot deny his attraction to her, even as her very existence threatens his grandfather, the king; the continuity of Ardunia; and perhaps humanity itself. Alizeh agonizes over her own feelings for the prince and the implications of the prophecy while she navigates between those who see her as an enemy and those who wish to use her. Richly textured, descriptive prose coupled with agonizing romance combine in this fantastical epic.
Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-297244-6
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
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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
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES
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Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
26
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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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