A leisurely paced fantasy with refreshing emotional depth.
Crown Princess Aria has mentally tallied every mistake she’s made since she was 8, but one moment of misguided optimism sees her trapped by the greatest mistake of her life.
The execution of Charles Morton, heir to his family’s estate, drags the kingdom to the brink of war. Eighteen-year-old Aria, against her father’s orders, tries to broker peace with the grieving Dowager Countess Morton, who stands for the maligned magic-wielding Casters, but her negotiations fail, with terrible consequences. Charles’ mother places a curse that will kill off the king’s line one by one over the course of 100 days. Meanwhile, newly orphaned Guillaume Reeves faces troubles of his own. As a Caster, he’s stripped of the title of baron, crushing his hopes of having a voice in the kingdom. When circumstances bring Aria and Guillaume together, what starts off as an exercise in mutual benefit (and distrust) steadily blossoms into something deeper—something that might mend the break between Casters and crown for good…assuming they don’t run out of time. Though the worldbuilding is somewhat shallow, the intricate plot unfurls steadily, allowing for deep character development. Lowham gives familial relationships as much weight as the slow-burn romance, which feels wonderfully believable. Heavy themes—the overcoming of internal and external trauma, the difficulties of effecting change against generations of prejudice—are handled sensitively and are served well by the rich prose. Most characters present white.
A leisurely paced fantasy with refreshing emotional depth. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781639933204
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
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 delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization.
Ellis Mitchell has her whole life planned out.
Heading into senior year, Ellis plans to study hard and crush it at the journalism internship her media executive dad got her, paving the way for her acceptance to Columbia University. But then Ellis’ parents announce they’re separating—and that Ellis and her mom will be heading to Bramble Falls to stay with her aunt and cousin. Furious that her careful plans have been upended, Ellis struggles to settle into the small, charming Connecticut town even as everyone around her gears up for the annual Falling Leaves Festival. Ellis runs into Cooper Barnett—her long-ago summer friend from visits to Aunt Naomi and cousin Sloane—who’s grown up to be very handsome. But Cooper isn’t pleased to see Ellis; he’s cold and curt, and she has no idea why. Wilson’s YA debut is chock-full of charm. Readers will swoon at Cooper’s and Ellis’ developing feelings following their frosty reunion and sympathize with Ellis’ difficulties even as Bramble Falls grows on her. She must choose between small-town community ties and big-city ambitions—between what her dad wants for her and what she really wants. Ellis’ relationships with her mom, aunt, and cousin are lovely and aspirational. The depiction of Bramble Falls is evocative, and the book contains enough seasonal delights to satisfy even the most devoted pumpkin spice latte lover. Main characters are cued white.
A delightfully autumnal small-town romance buoyed by strong characterization. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781665975209
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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