Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun
2016; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 69; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2016.0551
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Gothic Literature and Media Analysis
ResumoReviewed by: Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun Alaine Martaus Sun, Amanda Heir to the Sky. Harlequin Teen, 2016 [288p] ISBN 978-0-373-21191-3 $18.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 9-12 Sixteen-year-old Kallima has grown up the sheltered heir to the throne of Ashra, a floating continent hovering above the surface of a monster-ridden earth. Eavesdropping on the wrong conversation leads her to uncover a secret rebellion, and soon after, a seeming accident sends her tumbling over the edge to the world below. She’s quickly saved from certain death by handsome monster-hunter Griffin, under whose tutelage she learns to survive. Kali soon finds herself falling for the somber young fighter, and she begins to question everything she’s been taught, until a shocking revelation forces her to realize that only by returning home can she save her kingdom and her chance at love. Monster fight scenes infuse this otherwise predictable romantic adventure with an exciting survival subplot. As the typical pampered princess confronting her own naïveté, Kali is likable enough, but as a heroine she is lackluster, stumbling from one accidental feat to another; meanwhile Griffin is an affable hero who never emerges as more than a patient, supportive romantic ideal. The world building and plotting are intriguing yet thin, and the clearly telegraphed reveals are likely only surprising to Kali. Still, the monster-ridden landscape, its terrifying inhabitants, and the scenes of battle with them are crafted with fantastic detail, and should be more than enough to carry readers through. DeStefano’s Internment series (Perfect Ruin, BCCB 12/13, etc.) builds on a similar premise with stronger world building and more extraordinary characters, but this novel could still please readers who like their quest narratives harrowing and their romantic leads garbed in leather and animal fur. Copyright © 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Referência(s)