A strange, inventive tale that evolves into a challenging and rewarding odyssey.
In Miller’s novel, a disaffected teenager receives a bizarre power that may be the key to changing her grim reality.
Shay Garner is a 17-year-old living in a hostile world. At home, she must contend with her abusive, alcohol-addictedmother, who hurls insults but never offers love or support. At school, with her two best friends, Opal and Santana,she has joined an after-school group to work on community service, but all three girls agree that petitions and picking up garbage will do nothing to reverse the environmental disasters and extreme poverty around their home of San Jose, California. “Every single moment, even this one, is a gift,” Shay thinks, adding, “No part of her believes that statement fully.” However, an unbelievable gift does, in fact, come Shay’s way. An odd figure named Corvus P. Capra with mechanical pincers for hands saves her from a man harassing her in the street; he then wordlessly offers her a black clamshell, which displays messages so that he can communicate with her. The item also gives its new owner the ability to control animals with her mind. Shay’s disbelief quickly gives way to amazement, and then a flurry of questions, as she realizes that she can compel cockroaches, spiders, cats, and dogs to follow her orders with merely a thought. Shay trains with Corvus at night, but he remains aloof about the power’s ultimate purpose: “Time is little,” he tells her. “Few questions, fine, okay. Many, not good. It is pesky.” As her abilities grow, she finds herself able to manipulate zoo animals and even people. Shay withdraws from the people close to her, just as Corvus finally reveals his intentions to use the power to stave off an environmental disaster. However, before long, she and her friends set off down a strange path to understanding what it really means to change the world.
Miller’s heavily philosophical approach doesn’t shy away from dark themes, violence, or language. The novel’s detached tone quickly alerts readers to the deadly serious stakes, even as some wacky plot elements emerge; the reveal of what Corvus truly is, for example, seems too bizarre to be believed, but somehow feels logical. Shay’s sheer intelligence will win readers over early; the probing questions she asks about her new powers make her feel genuine, while also pushing at the limits of the unusual situation. There’s a pervasive sense of despair that Miller renders beautifully, and it places readers squarely into the mindset of young people who feel powerless to fix problems, either at home or in the world at large. The novel’s excellent twist is that when they get power, it only creates more perplexing questions with unclear solutions: “There is a growing hollowness beneath it,” Shay thinks after one victory, “a sense of incompletion.” The protagonist’s story feels light-years from the typical hero’s journey, consistently focusing on more existential themes—and the result is something unusually unsettling and unforgettable.
A strange, inventive tale that evolves into a challenging and rewarding odyssey.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.
A young Navarrian woman faces even greater challenges in her second year at dragon-riding school.
Violet Sorrengail did all the normal things one would do as a first-year student at Basgiath War College: made new friends, fell in love, and survived multiple assassination attempts. She was also the first rider to ever bond with two dragons: Tairn, a powerful black dragon with a distinguished battle history, and Andarna, a baby dragon too young to carry a rider. At the end of Fourth Wing (2023), Violet and her lover, Xaden Riorson, discovered that Navarre is under attack from wyvern, evil two-legged dragons, and venin, soulless monsters that harvest energy from the ground. Navarrians had always been told that these were monsters of legend and myth, not real creatures dangerously close to breaking through Navarre’s wards and attacking civilian populations. In this overly long sequel, Violet, Xaden, and their dragons are determined to find a way to protect Navarre, despite the fact that the army and government hid the truth about these creatures. Due to the machinations of several traitorous instructors at Basgiath, Xaden and Violet are separated for most of the book—he’s stationed at a distant outpost, leaving her to handle the treacherous, cutthroat world of the war college on her own. Violet is repeatedly threatened by her new vice commandant, a brutal man who wants to silence her. Although Violet and her dragons continue to model extreme bravery, the novel feels repetitive and more than a little sloppy, leaving obvious questions about the world unanswered. The book is full of action and just as full of plot holes, including scenes that are illogical or disconnected from the main narrative. Secondary characters are ignored until a scene requires them to assist Violet or to be killed in the endless violence that plagues their school.
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374172
Page Count: 640
Publisher: Red Tower
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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