A slick, funny, and fresh revamp of an old hero.
A teenage upstart desperately attempts to escape the hostile planet of Apokolips.
Orphaned and with no memories of his parents, Black student Scott Free has no fondness for Apokolips or the Goodness Academy, Granny Goodness’ school where most students end up in military service or, worse, the X-Pit. After surviving the prison maze of beasts and deadly traps, Scott was informally adopted by Himon, a genius Black inventor and the school janitor. Himon’s granddaughter, Bekka, is sick and a cure may be available on Earth if Scott can pull off this escape. Scott’s roommates believe he can help them get out as well, but they are unaware of Himon’s role in the plan. Complicating matters, a new Fury has arrived: Big Barda. The Furies, Granny Goodness’ chosen warriors, are an all-female group of students who keep the peace. As Bekka’s health declines, Scott will need a miracle to escape from Apokolips. Johnson’s sharply observed Mister Miracle origin story flows across each page, enhanced by Isles’ surgically precise linework. Johnson’s characters struggle with decisions and the weight of their consequences. Not one of them gets it right all the time, but through their attempts, readers witness truth, teamwork, and trust. Isles’ future-forward character design and liquid movement reveal in brilliant ways mood, urgency, and the scale of the choices each person makes. This is an exciting read that will leave readers hoping for a continuation of the story.
A slick, funny, and fresh revamp of an old hero. (Graphic science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77950-125-7
Page Count: 208
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
A meticulously crafted magical medical mystery with an emotionally substantive romance.
As in earlier entries, this trilogy closer blends genres as it presents a quest to resolve a strange plague alongside a heartfelt romance and an exploration of shifting allegiances.
With Theo Brood’s father dispatched, Theo and Ren Monroe begin the arduous task of turning the Brood estate into something more egalitarian. Meanwhile, medical student Mercy Whitaker has been sent by her mentor, Dr. Horn, to help victims of a plague that’s sweeping nearby farms. Quick thinking and dogged detective skills lead her right to the source—but not to a full explanation of what’s going on. Concurrently, questions arise after someone from Ren’s past goes missing. Nevelyn Tin’Vori’s careful research, part of her ongoing desire to undermine the Brood dynasty, leads her right to the answers everyone seeks, ones that are directly connected to Mercy’s gruesome discovery. Alliances new and old form and break, as a shadowy group called the Makers threatens to bring down not just the Broods but magic itself. The solidity of the central characters, who continue to grow emotionally through their many varied experiences, brings coherence to the series. Though Ren and Theo, who present white, have grown up over the course of the books, the steadily upbeat pacing and judicious worldbuilding remain ideal for teen readers, preventing any stagnation in this series that ends as interestingly as it started.
A meticulously crafted magical medical mystery with an emotionally substantive romance. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781665930499
Page Count: 544
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With a refreshingly original concept, this substantial fantasy, the first in a duology, is an undeniable page-turner
In Tiny Pretty Things co-author Clayton’s solo debut, beauty comes at a price.
On their joint 16th birthday, Camellia and her five sisters are sent out to restore beauty to Orléans, where everybody is born gray and ugly. They’ve been training for this their whole lives. As Belles, the sisters can use their magic to transform the citizens of Orléans from their original states. For the right price, Belles can grant any desired look. When Camellia secures the coveted spot of Her Majesty’s favorite, it seems as if her dreams have come true. As the most powerful, sought-out Belle, she is in charge of the royal family’s looks. However, the princess is insatiable in her quest for beauty and will do anything to get it—even if it means endangering the Belles and the kingdom—and Camellia may be the only one who can stop her. Not only that, but Camellia finds herself slowly uncovering the secrets of the Belles’ origin, and it’s not as pretty as she was taught. With wonderfully descriptive language, Clayton builds a grand and lavish world, carefully chipping away at the veneer to reveal its dark, sinister interior. In a world where anyone can change their skin color as often as they can change their hair color, race is fluid. Camellia is brown, and her sisters are various shades of brown and pale.
With a refreshingly original concept, this substantial fantasy, the first in a duology, is an undeniable page-turner (. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4847-2849-9
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Freeform/Disney
Review Posted Online: Nov. 12, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2017
SEEN & HEARD
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