An exceptional, must-read adventure written by an exciting new voice in fantasy.
This debut fantasy follows a brother and sister on globe-hopping missions to find their father—and save the world.
Dyson’s story begins in the middle of an ocean on a floating port called Hop, a deteriorating habitat of rotting wood and repurposed garbage that hasn’t had visitors in many years. Separated from the outside world, the inhabitants of Hop have no idea what has transpired elsewhere on the planet (known as Esa). But for most of them, the dream is to somehow leave Hop for more desirous locales. The father of 15-year-old Gaiel Izz and his sister, Lynd, 12, did just that five years ago when he left on a ship, never to return. The siblings live with their mother, Mape. In a magic-filled world where the forces of destruction and creation are strong (the power can be found in floating particles called spryts), the Izz family has been both blessed and cursed. Gai has the ability to fix things, while Lynd, when she gets agitated, inadvertently destroys what she touches. Knowing that their father—who was rumored to be sick with “Ruin” when he left—may hold the clues to Lynd’s curse, the two siblings begin epic quests to find answers. Lynd touches a red spryt and accidentally rips a hole in space and time, while Gai escapes Hop on the back of a giant sea turtle. Literally packed with nonstop action and adventure on every page, the two siblings’ very different journeys culminate in a jaw-dropping, apocalyptic climax with the very existence of the planet hanging in the balance. While the storyline is impressively intricate—and original—it’s the author’s brilliant worldbuilding and his ability to create a cast of deeply developed and emotionally connected characters that make this such an applaudable tale. Lastly, the novel’s overarching theme is profoundly moving: “We define ourselves.”
An exceptional, must-read adventure written by an exciting new voice in fantasy.Pub Date: April 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-7379105-0-3
Page Count: 328
Publisher: WONDERLOVE
Review Posted Online: Feb. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
