A tightly plotted, highly appealing story with bite.
A suspenseful remix of SF and horror.
McAdam’s reluctant reader horror novel revs into action early in Chapter 1, after trans protagonist Bran takes out the recycling. At 15, Bran finds himself trapped alone in an elevator during a power outage and soon after in the center of a dramatically altered world. Suddenly, familiar people are acting strangely and violently, and the only visible clue to the problem is a fast-spreading, weird, black ooze leaking from their mouths and noses. Scared but determined to find out what’s going on, Bran teams up with Mohammed, Zey, and Aisha—a trio of siblings he meets outside—and together they follow the creatures to where they have gathered. The foursome take risks as they put together the pieces of the events that led to this catastrophic change in humanity. When Bran spots Hayden, his best friend–turned-boyfriend, in danger, he becomes more motivated than ever to try to save everyone. Working together, Bran and his new friends struggle to overcome looming dangers as they try to put the world back to rights. This is a book about collaboration and trust set in a messy world where no one is safe. The chaos and violence are offset by Bran’s strong development as he focuses on problem-solving rather than despair. The quick, plot-driven action keeps things moving. Bran and Hayden read as White; names indicate diversity in the supporting cast.
A tightly plotted, highly appealing story with bite. (Horror. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4598-2848-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 29, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2021
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 thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.
Two teens train to be society-sanctioned killers in an otherwise immortal world.
On post-mortal Earth, humans live long (if not particularly passionate) lives without fear of disease, aging, or accidents. Operating independently of the governing AI (called the Thunderhead since it evolved from the cloud), scythes rely on 10 commandments, quotas, and their own moral codes to glean the population. After challenging Hon. Scythe Faraday, 16-year-olds Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova reluctantly become his apprentices. Subjected to killcraft training, exposed to numerous executions, and discouraged from becoming allies or lovers, the two find themselves engaged in a fatal competition but equally determined to fight corruption and cruelty. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. Scythes’ journal entries accompany Rowan’s and Citra’s dual and dueling narratives, revealing both personal struggles and societal problems. The futuristic post–2042 MidMerican world is both dystopia and utopia, free of fear, unexpected death, and blatant racism—multiracial main characters discuss their diverse ethnic percentages rather than purity—but also lacking creativity, emotion, and purpose. Elegant and elegiac, brooding but imbued with gallows humor, Shusterman’s dark tale thrusts realistic, likable teens into a surreal situation and raises deep philosophic questions.
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
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