A wholly absorbing, otherworldly tale of family, magic, and astonishing creatures.
Sisters in a world of floating islands question their respective destinies in Lorimer’s YA fantasy novel and series opener.
On the floating isle of Volturnus, violet-haired teen Effie Strait watches her big sister, Vanna, fail during the annual Ascension Ceremony. This year, none of the Gifted (who possess such abilities as Vanna’s “windshaping”) manage to tame a wild Leviathan (animals that spend their lifetimes in the sky). But Vanna is still a talented dragoon, belonging to a corps that helps protect Volturnus. All islands in the Zephyr Archipelago are under the protection of Celestials, Gifted crystalline beings who thwarted a piratical reign of terror (“Petty crews piloting kite-ships and steam-powered reavers harried the merchant fleets and trolley lines carrying goods and people to and fro across the archipelago”) 11 years earlier. The dragoons’ latest mission, however, which involves them looking into a potential rebellion, finds them debating what exactly the Celestials and the Celestial-appointed island governors have been up to. Meanwhile, Effie laments that her Gift hasn’t yet manifested. Even if her Gift never shows up, she’s determined to get an opportunity to tame a Leviathan and become one of the much sought-after Leviathan Pilots. Lorimer’s briskly-paced novel introduces readers to a fascinating world. A bevy of curious elements crop up, including the Long Drop (a fall into the “bare sky” is an infinite plummet), Leviathan (colossal beasts resembling dolphins, tortoises, and more), and glimpses at the harrowing pirate life. The contrasts between the Strait sisters make these intriguing characters even richer; reserved Vanna tends to roll with the punches while Effie rarely holds back her emotions. The younger sister can be overwhelming at times, as she blatantly resents those (including a close friend) with Gifts and seemingly believes she’s worthless without one of her own. (What she does to get what she wants provides a gleefully unpredictable turn.) Where Effie’s choices take her, along with a handful of dangling mysteries (like the Jokai, who “bless” people with Gifts), are left for sequels to resolve.
A wholly absorbing, otherworldly tale of family, magic, and astonishing creatures.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781968122010
Page Count: 192
Publisher: High Trestle Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 23, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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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