Surreal and mysterious; a wild ride.
To escape the clutches of a magical hotel, a Las Vegas teen must uncover its mysterious origins—or be forced to reside there forever.
Sixteen-year-old Anna Alonso just planned the perfect wedding for her older sister, Emily. But when the girls’ dad surprises Emily and her new husband with a condo in Manhattan as a wedding present, organized Anna, always prepared, is devastated; she’d planned on having the new couple nearby. To make matters worse, a tornado watch is issued as Anna, her dad, and his two business associates leave the wedding in their limo. Battered by the increasingly dangerous weather, they reluctantly head to the Houdini, the nearest of the hotels they own. When a telephone pole falls on the limo, trapping her dad and friends inside, Anna seeks help in the Houdini, but it’s strangely deserted and the doors are locked, so she can’t get out. Heading deeper into the hotel, she meets a resident boy named Max who offers to help—but can she trust him? Readers familiar with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Tempest will notice the influences from both works, and fans of contemporary fantasy will be drawn into the magical world explored in this story that is full of twists and turns. Lush details, from descriptions of food and drink to the hotel’s furnishings, will engross readers: While Anna is trying to leave the Houdini, readers might not want to. Most characters are cued white.
Surreal and mysterious; a wild ride. (Fantasy. 12-17)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593486795
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Dark, seductive, but over-the-top: Characters and book alike will enthrall those who choose to play.
Garber returns to the world of bestseller Caraval (2017), this time with the focus on younger, more daring sister Donatella.
Valenda, capital of the empire, is host to the second of Legend’s magical games in a single year, and while Scarlett doesn’t want to play again, blonde Tella is eager for a chance to prove herself. She is haunted by the memory of her death in the last game and by the cursed Deck of Destiny she used as a child which foretold her loveless future. Garber has changed many of the rules of her expanding world, which now appears to be infused with magic and evil Fates. Despite a weak plot and ultraviolet prose (“He tasted like exquisite nightmares and stolen dreams, like the wings of fallen angels, and bottles of fresh moonlight.”), this is a tour de force of imagination. Themes of love, betrayal, and the price of magic (and desire) swirl like Caraval’s enchantments, and Dante’s sensuous kisses will thrill readers as much as they do Tella. The convoluted machinations of the Prince of Hearts (one of the Fates), Legend, and even the empress serve as the impetus for Tella’s story and set up future volumes which promise to go bigger. With descriptions focusing primarily on clothing, characters’ ethnicities are often indeterminate.
Dark, seductive, but over-the-top: Characters and book alike will enthrall those who choose to play. (glossary) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: May 29, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-250-09531-2
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2018
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