An intriguingly choreographed debut.
In a magical world of dunes and sea, Aasira is determined to prove her loyalty to queen and country.
Once united as the country of Larijaah, Amaar and Mezeer are now two kingdoms in conflict. The dancers of the dawn, girl assassins with rare magical abilities, combat Mezeeri operatives who are spreading lies about Amaar’s queen’s misuse of water magic at the expense of Mezeer’s drought- and famine-stricken commonfolk. Aasira, recognized for her potent fire magic, serves as the executioner among the dancers-in-training, but she’s despised and under constant suspicion—her mother was a turncoat general who’s now mistrusted by Queen Sana. But when a surprising incident leads to Aasira’s competing for a coveted position in the Queen’s Guard, these shifting dynamics reveal long-held secrets and schemes that jeopardize the kingdom’s stability and lead Aasira to question everything she’s ever believed. This duology opener blending magical dance and warfare is set in a South Asian–inspired world that contains Islamic elements and naming conventions. The story’s strengths include an engaging premise, complex and varied plot twists, and intricate attention to cultural and dance elements, but the uneven narrative pacing, occasional repetition, and ever-increasing array of characters (who can be difficult to track) result in a climax that lacks some cohesion and emotional buy-in. Nevertheless, readers will look forward to more developments in the follow-up.
An intriguingly choreographed debut. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: 9780861545070
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Rock the Boat/Oneworld
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world.
The Pixie Dust Root is in danger, and one fairy is determined to save it—and the Pixie Dust Tree that all of Pixie Hollow depends upon.
In this stand-alone story set in the same world as Allison Saft’s Wings of Starlight (2025), Periwinkle, a frost-talent who has a gift for finding things—or maybe they have a way of finding her?—discovers a lost thread of magic that grants her the ability to dream. But not all dreams are as sparkly as Periwinkle. One night, she awakens from a nightmare to find herself in the Winter Woods with a fairy she’s never met, a sparrow man named Weaver, who claims to be a rare dream-talent. Disconcertingly, Weaver knows her—he calls her “perfect Periwinkle” and for some reason doesn’t seem to like her very much. Nevertheless, Periwinkle finds herself drawn to Weaver. When he tells her he can save the Pixie Dust Root by spinning her dreams into thread if she helps him find the magic tools he needs, Periwinkle agrees. Their journey leads the pair, who are pale-skinned, to discover things they like about each other, too. This is an opposites-attract adventure with romantic tension, a high-stakes quest, personal discovery, and betrayal. The characters struggle with inner turmoil while also adjusting their understanding of each other. Bright balances the fun with explorations of themes of snap judgments, labels, and weaponizing fear.
A sweet, romantic visit to the iconic Disney Fairies world. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9780736447362
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney/Random House
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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