A visually arresting account of a Fury’s promising beginning.
Six young warrior women are led by the brave Barda in this story from the world of DC Comics.
The Furies—sent by Lord Darkseid to find variables to fuel his war against all things light—have been trained to be disposable tools of destruction. They fight under the threat of torture by Granny Goodness, a sadistic elder who celebrates them for their brutality and punishes them for any perceived weaknesses. The Furies reside on the planet Apokolips and carry out missions against their foes on New Genesis, a planet that is the antithesis of everything they know. Barda is the brawniest and most ruthless of the Furies, but when she finds a book lying on the ground during a battle, it changes everything by showing her love’s possibilities, interrupting the book’s repeated refrain, “We do not speak of love on Apokolips.” When Barda is ordered to torture a man who tried to escape the X-Pit, Granny Goodness’ prison, Granny’s cruelty pushes her to see whether love can be more than just a possibility. Although the storyline is simple, and experienced readers may find few surprises, Barda’s vulnerability during her quiet moments creates a fantastic balance between action and introspection. Bursts of blues, greens, and golds flash across the mainly terracotta palette, which highlights the barrenness of Apokolips and sets a striking scene. The Furies all appear to be white, with the exception of Lashina, who’s coded as Black.
A visually arresting account of a Fury’s promising beginning. (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: June 4, 2024
ISBN: 9781779511133
Page Count: 208
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
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
Frustratingly slow and lacking in magical wonder.
Despite living her happily-ever-after, Evangeline can’t help but strive to recover her lost memories in this trilogy closer.
Evangeline Fox awakens in the strong arms of Prince Apollo, her apparent husband, who swears to protect her from the evil Lord Jacks, who stole her memories. Unfortunately, Evangeline remembers nothing of her long and complex journey in the Magnificent North or her past romances; only the pain in her heart lets her know something is missing. At Wolf Hall, Evangeline seeks ways to unlock her missing memories, including enlisting the help of a mysterious guard named Archer, even as Apollo’s behavior becomes more and more controlling. The pacing and plot feel stagnant at first, with Evangeline remembering things in flashes and moments of brief feelings, but things finally pick up once her memories return. With the point of view rotating among Evangeline, Apollo, and Jacks, there are few narrative surprises, but it’s intriguing to delve into the minds of an antagonist and a Fate. The story’s inclusion of the legendary Valors and the fantastical fairy-tale setting are unfortunately overshadowed by the love triangle’s dramatic tug-of-war romance. Likewise, the book’s various themes—power, hope, stories, and the nature of humanity—are of interest but handled in an unfocused way. The conclusion, at least, is satisfying, and it hints at future tales set in this world. Evangeline, Jacks, and Archer read white; Apollo has dark hair and olive skin.
Frustratingly slow and lacking in magical wonder. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9781250851208
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
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