Tag Archives: fantasy

Guest Reviewer Edition: A Review of Kindling

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Kindling
Chee, Traci
HarperCollins
February 27, 2024
Grades 9-up

Magical elite soldiers must confront their own traumas and identities while banding together to defend a town besieged by raiders. Inspired by Seven Samurai, Chee weaves together the stories of seven kindlings who are desperate for stability and purpose in a world that no longer needs them. Raised from the age of six to be elite weapons in a war of expansion, these kindlings now wander the countryside, but are soon gathered for a mission by one of their own. Initially, each kindling views the defense of Camas—the mountain village terrorized by raiders—as just a job. But as time passes and the soldiers’ lives and pasts show their impact, the group finds solace in one another and grows close. “That’s what home is. The people you love. The people you fight for.” (p. 417) Despite coming from similar backgrounds, each character has their own unique voice, characteristics, vices, fears and desires. One character is nonbinary; the rest are female. Even if they don’t bear the same scars, every kindling recognizes a bit of themselves in their comrades. Though all seven kindlings have point-of-view chapters, the book is written in second-person, which forces the reader to empathize with their harsh reality. These vignettes of grief, trauma and the effects of war are devastating and intensely realistic; Chee paints an unflinching depiction of violence and its effect on children. Interweaving these moments with lighter ones like romance and village camaraderie keeps the book from being bogged down by heavy topics. Action scenes towards the climax of the story are fast-paced and thrilling, but easy to follow. Despite a macabre tone throughout and bittersweet climax, the story ends on a note of newfound hope and optimism. Kindling puts the desperation of existing without guidance, and the challenge of living one’s life for oneself, on display in a way any reader can empathize with.

Guest reviewer Katie Steffensen, is a Dominican University MLIS candidate and works in youth services at a library in the North Chicago suburbs. She loves working with tweens and teens.

Duty, Loyalty, Love: A Review of Empress of All Seasons

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Empress of All Seasons

Empress of All Seasons
Emiko Jean
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, November 2018

As per tradition, when the land of Honoku needs a new empress, a competition is held. All eligible women are invited, and the one who survives each of the four enchanted seasonal rooms is deemed worthy of the title of Empress of Honoku and position next to Taro, the prince next in line to be emperor. Mari has trained for this competition since childhood, though as yōkai she is technically ineligible to compete. Yōkai, supernatural beings, are under threat and enslaved by the current emperor. But Mari cares little about the rules or the prince – she competes for the power of being empress, and to bring change to Honoku from within. Taro himself doesn’t enjoy being a prize to be won, and cares little about his power – he would rather spend time in his lab with his mechanical inventions. Akira, another yōkai and friend of Mari, works to overthrow the Emperor from the outside while Mari keeps her true identity hidden to join the competition. Taro may just become their greatest ally, if they can learn to trust each other when their identities and motivations are revealed.

A detailed world and political structure along with multiple perspectives gives this fantasy novel depth and puts the reader at the immediacy of the action. Inspired by her Japanese heritage, Jean has created an escape for readers that questions the sacrifices made for duty and love, and challenges the notion of tradition as a value to be upheld.

Stregas & Strategy: A Review of The Brilliant Death

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brilliant deathThe Brilliant Death
Amy Rose Capetta
Viking Books, October 2018

Historical fantasy and romance collide in this captivating tale set in Vinalia, a fictional land inspired by mountain villages of old Italy. Teodora di Sangro is well aware of and versed in the di Sangro way of life, which places loyalty to the family above the self, and the opinions of men above women – but she yearns for more: the power of a di Sangro son, and to use the magic she holds inside of her. With her magic, she changes her family’s enemies into trinkets that decorate her room, but Teo knows she could do more, if only her father trusted the strega way in addition to practicing and teaching political strategy to his sons.

When Teo meets Cielo, a young genderfluid strega who can teach Teo how to use her power to become the di Sangro son she longs to be, Teo realizes there may be a way to be her true self and save her family from the Capo’s plans to weaken each of the Five Families of Vinalia. With challenges to traditional gender roles, exploration of what it means to feel at home and whole in your body, and poetically descriptive language, The Brilliant Death elevates a coming-of-age story into a thoughtful consideration of who we are when we let go of society’s expectations and trust the magic inside of us.