A chaotic conclusion, best for fervent fans and those who want more romance than Rick Riordan’s novels.
Teen lovers go to Hades and back in this third book.
Small-town 17-year-old singer Daphne Raines is stuck in the Greco-Roman–esque Underrealm, betrothed to Garrick—former servant, current ruler, and increasingly unhinged villain—and missing her magical musical skills, family, and new love, 17-year-old Haden. When a hasty escape brings unexpected powers and alliances, Daphne takes charge to keep the monstrous Keres in the Pits, save the innocents, and get topside. On Earth and in the Skyrealm above it, formal and formerly royal Haden gains humanity as he succumbs to a poisoned-arrow wound and suffers inadequate (but humorous) stop-gap solutions. The third co-narrator, torture-victim Tobin, initially offers little assistance but later proves helpful, as does a crowded cast of disgraced Skylords and diminished deities. Almost all the friends and enemies from previous installments play a role, but early and heavy-handed exposition offers access for new readers while melodramatic reunions, frequent battle scenes, and abundant reversals of fortune keep the story moving. Although Despain weaves in some classical mythology and nods to pop culture, she invests the bulk of her energy in detailing the long-running political and personal feuds of the Underlords and Skylords.
A chaotic conclusion, best for fervent fans and those who want more romance than Rick Riordan’s novels. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5124-0583-5
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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
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