Pacing issues aside, a satisfying conclusion for fans of the trilogy.
Following Blade Breaker (2022), Corayne has her final showdown against the servants of What Waits.
Aveyard drops readers right into the devastating aftermath of the events of the previous book. Corayne’s Companions have been scattered and are uncertain of each other’s survival. While the escaped heroes attempt to regroup, only one destination comes to mind—the Elder enclave of Iona. Romantically, two couples within the core Companions have sweet, slow-burn storylines (that fortunately don’t get in the way of more imminent threats to the world). Charlie’s treated to an early reunion with his longtime love Garion, and villainous Erida and Taristan bring the passion in a manner that makes them hard to root against, even as they commit heartless acts for their all-consuming evil god. The sprawling cast and multiple points of view sometimes lead to a sagging plot and backtracking timeline in ways that slow the momentum as the heroes ever so slowly inch their way back together. Luckily, well-blocked action scenes pep up the prose. Some plot elements may give readers déjà vu (again, the heroes are assembling an alliance to stop the villains, and right on cue, there’s a third-act plot twist). After the lengthy buildup and extended final battle, the epilogue feels abrupt and too short. The fantasy world is casually diverse.
Pacing issues aside, a satisfying conclusion for fans of the trilogy. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9780063116061
Page Count: 576
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 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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