A middle volume that builds on its predecessor’s successes, delivering a captivating and emotionally resonant adventure.
In this sequel to Spice Road (2023), Imani and Taha face impossible circumstances as they try to save their home and loved ones.
The novel begins soon after the events of the first entry, with Imani and her crew narrowly escaping imprisonment by King Glaedric’s Harrowlanders after rescuing her brother, Atheer. The king now knows about the misra tree growing in Qalia—the source of magic Spice—and he poses an imminent threat of invasion. The only hope for saving the city is to help Qayn (the djinni who’s soulbound to Imani), find his jeweled crown, and restore his power. Imani’s and Taha’s journeys crisscross, putting them separately through heartbreaking losses and emotionally difficult experiences, only for them to be thrust together again. Despite mistrust and mistakes, they must rely on each other if they are to save Qalia. As their complicated feelings are put to the test, they face the possibility of death while struggling internally. Ibrahim’s strength lies in her ability to create a fully fleshed-out world and contemplatively examine the complexities of relationships, blurring the lines between enemy and friend. The narrative unfolds in alternating voices that seamlessly weave together the leads’ stories. Surprising pivots contribute to this engaging read, set in a world that draws inspiration from Arab and medieval Western cultural elements. The unique and compelling setting will capture a broad range of readers.
A middle volume that builds on its predecessor’s successes, delivering a captivating and emotionally resonant adventure. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
ISBN: 9780593127001
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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
A powerful duology closer that explores gender, power, and community in a unique world infused with Aztec mythology.
This thrilling sequel to The Sunbearer Trials (2022) follows Teo and Xio, two semidioses (or demigods) and former friends, as they fight on opposite sides during a war and an apocalypse.
Following the theft of the Sol Stone by the formerly exiled and now unleashed Obsidian gods and their monstrous Celestials, the inhabitants of Reino del Sol are plunged into a dark and uncertain future. Flanked by his best friend and crush, Teo embarks on an odyssey to resurrect Sol and save the world, while Xio wrestles with their role in the Obsidians’ revenge. Teo learns that the power structures and histories he learned from the ruling dioses (including his mother, Quetzal) may hide injustices and inequities that he doesn’t want to restore. Meanwhile, Xio begins to question whether the quest for justice for which they were conscripted to fight might instead be a subterfuge that’s intended to enact an oppressive new world. While action-packed with both battles and romance, the story also deftly delves into themes of systemic violence, generational trauma, and abuse of power. Teo and Xio are complex characters who offer strong representation of and for trans and nonbinary teens, respectively. The central messages of self-discovery, social justice, and building communities of care in a hostile world will resonate with readers who are facing challenges themselves.
A powerful duology closer that explores gender, power, and community in a unique world infused with Aztec mythology. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781250822086
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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