A heart-wrenching, deftly executed end to this duology.
A new (and improved?) Nirrim settles in as queen in this follow-up to The Midnight Lie (2020).
The book opens with a brief recap of events in the previous volume: Nirrim traded her heart to the God of Thieves in exchange for lost knowledge and is still distraught over parting ways with her lover, Sid. Thanks to her transaction, the Half Kith, the oppressed people of Ethin, have recovered their memories of the truth about their island and regained the magic that the High Kith rulers had been siphoning from them. Nirrim, now without a heart, even more powerful, and seeking revenge, begins a violent onslaught against the High Kith and positions herself as queen. Meanwhile, readers are gifted chapters from Sid’s perspective, allowing the cocky, pressured heir of Herran a chance to relate her own struggles as her mother lies ill, possibly from poison. The sweet, hesitant heroine of the first installation is gone as Nirrim descends further into cruelty and violence, while Rutkoski exquisitely fleshes out Sid’s character and the nation of Herran, gently tackling themes of colonization and its legacy all the while. The elegant prose makes this a pleasurable read that will keep readers engrossed. In this world, characters are diverse in their appearances: Nirrim has black hair, green eyes, and brown skin; pale-skinned Sid has blond hair.
A heart-wrenching, deftly executed end to this duology. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-374-31384-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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
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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