Disappointingly familiar despite the creative magic and shocking hook at the end.
On opposite sides of a long war, two teens find hope together in this duology opener.
Seventeen-year-old Darling Seabreak was orphaned by the House Wars instigated by House Dragon, which destroyed her family. Surviving life in dark sewers as a child, she becomes a deadly Barb for her adopted House Kraken as they struggle against the imperialistic Dragons. Eighteen-year-old Talon Goldhoard fights for his older brother, Caspian, the Chaos-touched High Prince Regent of House Dragon and ruler of all Pyrlanum, a deadly War Prince whose entire life has been battle. The focus on family bonds and support adds realism, while the inclusion of prophetic dreams and visions creates intrigue: When Darling’s adoptive father is kidnapped by Dragons, she is drawn into a political struggle between Caspian’s erratic plans, her loyalty to House Kraken, and her growing attraction to Talon. Their romance, while beginning with immediate attraction, progresses at a slow burn and relies on trust rather than instalove. Despite familiar worldbuilding delivered mostly through telling rather than showing, the boon magic system is intriguing, and the inclusion of Chaos in the mythology adds a twist. While the plot is predictable—until a surprising ending that seems to come out of nowhere—alternating narrators allow for differing views and opinions on events. Caspian is an especially interesting character, and readers will wish for more time with him. Darling has brown skin; Talon and Caspian are light-skinned.
Disappointingly familiar despite the creative magic and shocking hook at the end. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: March 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-35332-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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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