An intriguing premise that falls short of fulfilling its promise.
A girl struggles to balance her inherited responsibilities with the desires of her heart in this co-authored work illustrated by debut graphic novelist M S.
Myra is next in line to become the high priestess of Ah’ron, but she’s afraid that she won’t live up to her grandmother’s legacy. She releases her stress by dancing, even though it’s banned because it might bring darkness to the land. The night before the annual Navo Versano festival, Prince Eyden catches Myra dancing. They haven’t seen each other in a decade, and as the celebrations continue, their mutual attraction grows. When Grandmother suddenly falls ill, Myra must fulfill the duties of high priestess, including receiving a vision from the god Alrun that will inform the country’s new direction. But the vision doesn’t come—and Grandmother has long insisted that Myra’s dancing interferes with her commitment to Alrun. Unsure whether to follow her heart or accept the expectations placed on her, Myra finds herself at the center of a divine battle. The plot is interesting but sometimes lacking in clarity. Myra is sympathetic and her struggles will resonate with many readers, but the theme of being conflicted is underexplored, making the stakes and her emotional arc fall flat. The painterly artwork beautifully conveys the feeling of the Indian-inspired world with its brown-skinned inhabitants, but details are obscured in places, making it difficult to discern what’s happening in some panels.
An intriguing premise that falls short of fulfilling its promise. (illustrator’s note, sketches) (Graphic fantasy romance. 12-18)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9780593809181
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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
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