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THE MONARCHS

From the Ravens series , Vol. 2

Fans will certainly enjoy this duology closer.

Sorority witches confront consequences and reveal new truths in this follow-up to The Ravens (2020).

Life is (somewhat) back to normal at Westerly College after former coven member Tiffany went on a murderous rampage. Starting in the semester following the events of the previous book, Scarlett Winter and Vivi Devereaux are determined to leave the traumatic past behind them. Scarlett fills the position of Kappa Rho Nu president after her predecessor’s grisly death, and Vivi, though just a freshman, takes on the demanding role of social chair. Meanwhile, the Ravens grapple with squabbles with rival sororities, roller-coaster love lives, and hosting an important visit by alumnae (the titular Monarchs). Vivi also begins to unearth insights into her absent father, and Scarlett seeks to adjust Kappa traditions in order to avoid repeating previous mistakes. Conflicts surrounding interpersonal trust, reconnecting to one’s family, and a new aspect of this world’s original magic system are highlights, making sorority drama about one-upping their rivals through extravagant parties seem shallow in comparison. The first entry’s rapid pace continues here, however, with a storyline that never slows down before reaching a satisfying and tidy finish. Vivi is White; Scarlett is Black; and the rest of the cast includes a diverse array of ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Fans will certainly enjoy this duology closer. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Jan. 11, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-358-09822-5

Page Count: 448

Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021

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POWERLESS

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

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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A STUDY IN DROWNING

From the Study in Drowning series , Vol. 1

A dark and gripping feminist tale.

A young woman faces her past to discover the truth about one of her nation’s heroes.

When Effy Sayre, the only female architecture student at her university in Llyr, wins the competition to design Hiraeth Manor for the estate of the late Emrys Myrddin, national literary figure and her favorite author, it is the perfect opportunity to leave behind a recent trauma. She arrives to find the cliffside estate is literally crumbling into the ocean, and she quickly realizes things may not be as they seem. Preston, an arrogant literature student, is also working at the estate, gathering materials for the university’s archives and questioning everything Effy knows about Myrddin. When Preston offers to include her name on his thesis—which may allow her to pursue the dream of studying literature that was frustrated by the university’s refusal to admit women literature students—Effy agrees to help him. He’s on a quest for answers about the source of Myrddin’s most famous work, Angharad, a romance about a cruel Fairy King who marries a mortal woman. Meanwhile, Myrddin’s son has secrets of his own. Preston and Effy start to suspect that Myrddin’s fairy tales may hold more truth than they realize. The Welsh-inspired setting is impressively atmospheric, and while some of the mythology ends up feeling extraneous, the worldbuilding is immersive and thoughtfully addresses misogyny and its effects on how history is written. Main characters are cued white.

A dark and gripping feminist tale. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023

ISBN: 9780063211506

Page Count: 384

Publisher: HarperTeen

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023

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