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WARSAFE

A balanced, suspenseful novel for passionate gamers that offers a critique of human violence.

A dystopian world intertwined with contemporary gaming references offers a framework for exploring ethical questions.

For 13 years, Halley has been a non-player character in a video game, serving lemonade in a village that serves the Mercenaries, or Mercs. Every day the Mercs kill guards and find ways to move up through the different floors of a house. A concurrent storyline unfolding outside of the world of the game follows Roscoe, a graphic designer who’s currently working as a beta tester for Warsafe, a major video game studio in Seattle. She joins forces with Andy, a 23-year-old radio astronomer, after learning a shocking secret. The relationships that develop among the characters take center stage in this suspenseful, well-paced narrative. Action-packed chapters fulfill readers’ expectations of a gaming-based novel with an interesting premise that requires some suspension of disbelief. The chapters rotate among several characters’ points of view, delving into their distaste for the utilitarian ethics that permeate their worlds. Through one character’s arc, Smyth introduces a moral framework that examines religious faith, which the narrative addresses in implicit and explicit ways. Amid the corporate espionage and manipulation, the book critiques violent video games, real-world conflicts, experimentation without fully informed consent, and human rights violations. The characters largely present white, although some are inspired by Japanese gaming culture and aesthetics.

A balanced, suspenseful novel for passionate gamers that offers a critique of human violence. (Science fiction. 14-18)

Pub Date: yesterday

ISBN: 9798886051988

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Enclave Escape

Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025

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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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VOICE OF THE OCEAN

After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself.

In this debut by YouTuber Impicciche, a young siren princess is faced with a mission she cannot refuse.

Celeste’s mother, Queen Halia, has always considered her to be too emotional—like the irrational humans. In order to prove herself, Celeste has spent several cycles, the sirens’ unit of time, training to become a member of the Chorus, a militarized unit that patrols the seas. Before her final test, Celeste comes across an attractive human prince, Raiden, whose father is King Leonidas—her mother’s sworn enemy. She ends up saving Raiden’s life, but when her mother learns of her transgression, she offers Celeste the chance to go on a mission that requires her to become human and avoid being executed for treason. The narrative, which initially is strongly reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid,” has some slower moments and repetitive elements that are offset by witty commentary that helps engage readers. The opening drags, but the pace picks up as the story unfolds. Impicciche does a good job of creating a detailed world of siren customs and traditions. Her characters exhibit emotional depth, conveying what it feels like to be lost and betrayed. Sirens have skin of varying colors, including blue, purple, and green; Celeste’s skin is “soft peach.” Raiden presents white, and there’s racial diversity among other humans.

After a slow start, an action-packed adventure about embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: April 22, 2025

ISBN: 9798212980906

Page Count: 432

Publisher: Blackstone

Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025

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