A heady sequel that ups the stakes, further explores compelling internal dilemmas, and delivers horror laced with hope.
A young woman plots to outmaneuver a secret society that embraces lifelong alliances with vampires.
In the alluring series opener Immortal Dark (2024), Kidan Adane discovered that she and her missing sister, June, were the last living descendants of Adane House. Kidan believed a bloodthirsty vampire stole June away; her search led her to Uxlay University, where vampires and their willing human companions sustain a delicately balanced coexistence. Now Kidan’s goals are not only shaped by vengeance and her hatred of vampires, they’re also grounded by her motivation to save June from the seductive danger of their birthright. But Kidan is sent reeling by the realization that June has betrayed her—how could someone she trusted and loved turn out to be her enemy? As she races to learn how to become the true master of Adane House, Kidan’s charged relationship with the vampire Susenyos threatens to erase an ever-weakening boundary. Girma’s cinematic continuation of Kidan’s journey crackles with the heat of forbidden romance and the prickly paranoia of sociopolitical intrigue. June’s characterization presents a stark contrast to Kidan’s, but both sisters ride the line of moral grayness, and the story’s multiple points of view provide an immersive narrative experience. The ending sets up unresolved questions, leaving readers eager to dive into the next twisty act.
A heady sequel that ups the stakes, further explores compelling internal dilemmas, and delivers horror laced with hope. (content warning, map) (Fantasy. 15-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780316593649
Page Count: 544
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
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