A dark and sinuous fantasy adventure.
A young woman must resurrect a prince whose return to the throne could restore balance to the kingdom.
After successfully—with a few caveats—reviving a dead dog, gutsy Kajal is determined to do the same for Lasya, her beloved deceased sister. But when Lasya turns into a bhuta (a vengeful, murderous ghost) and takes out her rage on those around Kajal, the latter is accused by the townsfolk of being a dakini, or witch, and imprisoned. Before a brutal sentence can be carried out, Vivaan and Sezal, two young rebels, approach Kajal; they know she resurrected Kutaa, her undead canine companion. They promise to help her escape and retrieve Lasya’s body, but in return, she must aid them in overthrowing Anu Bakshi, the Usurper King, by resurrecting Dharati’s crown prince, Advaith Thakar. Every time Lasya’s bhuta claims another life, she becomes more powerful, so Kajal hurries to meet her end of the bargain. But after discovering that the boy she brought back to life isn’t actually the crown prince but someone else entirely, she frantically attempts to cover up her mistake and find the real Advaith. Sim’s duology opener is an artful presentation of binaries—evidence and belief, right and wrong—and the complex, gray, in-between areas. This intriguing exploration of certainty is highlighted by a nonbinary character’s perceptions of duality. The worldbuilding, which relies heavily on its infusion of Indian mythology, is both winsome and convoluted.
A dark and sinuous fantasy adventure. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: June 25, 2024
ISBN: 9780593407424
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
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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