A roller-coaster ride that is at times overwhelming.
A second series entry introduces many new faces in this graphic fantasy translated from Chinese.
A brief prologue explains the context for the events taking place immediately after what happened in The Hunt Is On (2021), as the allure of the mystical aweto, strongest of the plantlike chadolo deities, leads brothers Qiliu and Xinyue to split up and pursue their own journeys. Younger sibling Xinyue has been healed from his brother’s attack by the aweto Kshana. He and Kshana find themselves under the care of a lost apprentice monk named Miaodeng, who begs to join them. Despite the dangers, Xinyue reluctantly allows Miaodeng to follow along. Older brother Qiliu, meanwhile, wakes up with no memories, unaware that his taking his brother's life in the previous volume has led to his losing his soul. Wandering in a daze, he runs into Ashmi, a Sanamo warrior, and they head toward the Forest of Poison Mists. Xinyue is now reluctantly accompanying Princess Anxi and her caravan, while Qiliu and the Sanamo are coerced by men who are seeking Kshana. The ending teases another entry. The story is action-packed, but the sheer number of new characters and challenges occasionally disrupts the flow. A highlight is the beautiful watercolor artwork that conveys a strong sense of movement. Light background washes of color are pleasing to the eye, while pops of more saturated tones add emphasis.
A roller-coaster ride that is at times overwhelming. (character guide, map) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781541597853
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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