An often vivid fantasy tale, although its verbosity sometimes works against it.
This YA fantasy series starter features a princess who ventures into forbidden territory on a quest to understand her father’s uncharacteristic behavior.
After Frederick Vox, king of Equadoria, returns from a trip to the south, he unsuccessfully tries to kill his 16-year-old daughter, Princess Ariadae. He’s always been a loving, doting parent, so Ariadae is determined to figure out what’s responsible for the change in him. She believes that the answer lies in Elkwood Forest, a swath of wilderness that she’s been forbidden to enter because her mother was murdered at its border years ago. On her travels, she takes Jeremiah, her 18-year-old best friend; Snow, her white tiger; and trained sentinels Zube, Gaston, and Novid. As they traverse Elkwood, Ariadae is shocked to find legendary, monstrous creatures called the Forsaken there. Attacks by savage Wood Nymphs and Wendigos fracture the party, and after one battle, Zube suspects that the princess may have latent telekinetic skills of which she isn’t aware. Eventually, Ariadae becomes separated from her companions and wakes up in the hidden city of Flori. It’s a melting pot of magical peoples ruled by the cruel High Lady Evaflora, who uses a spell to keep her citizens docile. Here, the princess meets Lunan, High Lord of Solis, who believes that Evaflora wants to restart a war between Mortal and Immortal races. For his debut novel, James walks a well-trod fantasy path, full of magical beings and prophecy, but he does so with formidable vision. The scenes often possess an eldritch allure, as when Ariadae views a mosaic that features three figures and “long crackling fingers of lightning that scatter...bright, jagged lines studded with sapphire and lapis lazuli.” The plot twists, including one that’s quite substantial, bring agility to the narrative and a sense of wonder. James’ prose, however, sometimes excessively lingers on his heroine’s first-person perspective, filtering everything through her emotional turmoil. For example, when someone else is shot with an arrow, the princess thinks, “now I know what pain is.” Still, this opening volume sets up a sturdy foundation for more action to come.
An often vivid fantasy tale, although its verbosity sometimes works against it.Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-578-58271-9
Page Count: 500
Publisher: Zachary James Novels
Review Posted Online: Feb. 27, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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