A heist, a talisman, a shrine, and an abundance of faith lead to greatness in this consistently engaging action-adventure...
In Kramer’s YA fantasy novel, two lifelong friends embark on an epic quest that forces them to confront their destinies.
“Fulgar Geth could heal with his fingertips,” reveals the narrator in the opening line of this prequel to the Heroes of Time Legends series. Eight-year-old Fulgar has a power that he doesn’t fully understand. Because he can heal injuries with a touch, and also manipulate magnetism to affect metal, his best friend, Binny, says that he’s cursed, but “in a good way”—the result of a mage using magic to save Fulgar when he was born. Nothing in Fulgar’s life of poverty has convinced him that he’s fated for greater things, and by the age of 17, he’s become a thief who, along with Binny, is living on the streets. Binny, meanwhile, is preoccupied with a talisman that he took from his uncle’s place, which could lead him and Fulgar to a fabled shrine of ancient power. They set out on their journey, but Fulgar, who’s skeptical, is just along for the ride as Binny does “What he does best: mischief.” When they eventually find themselves on the opposite sides of a great power, it puts the limits of their friendship and faith to the test. As the story goes on, the concept of healing comes have multiple meanings, as Fulgar must not only heal physical traumas, but also emotional and spiritual ones. It’s a lot for a YA fantasy tale to shoulder, but Kramer has created an exciting, swashbuckling world for his characters to navigate. Throughout, the dialogue keeps the action grounded: “Don’t lose the forest for the trees, mate,” says Binny to Fulgar at one point. The sword-fighting sequences boast elegant choreography that leaps right off the page. The story takes on a more solemn tone as Fulgar and Binny grapple with their destinies, but for lovers of magic and feel-good adventure stories, this prequel offers a welcoming world for them to explore.
A heist, a talisman, a shrine, and an abundance of faith lead to greatness in this consistently engaging action-adventure tale.Pub Date: May 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781955997171
Page Count: 273
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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