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Marriott, Zoë
5 Reviews
(4)
YA
Mio (The Name of the Blade; Darkness Hidden), her friends, and family must join together to fight a last epic battle against the ancient Japanese gods taking over London. Considerations of rebirth and revelation are added to the trilogy's previous themes of love, trust, and loss. More nuanced character development, as compared to prior installments, helps flesh out the protagonists in this pat conclusion to a familiar urban-fantasy trilogy.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(4)
YA
In this sequel to The Name of the Blade, Mio must fight demons, both inner and outer, if she wants to protect herself, her friends, and the city of London from supernatural havoc. Japanese mythological monsters, other dimensions, demonic possession, and magical swords all find a place in the modern-set fantasy. Exciting action sequences may distract readers from lazy character development.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(4)
YA
This Cinderella story is set in a fairy-tale version of ancient Japan. Suzume vows to get revenge for her stepfather’s murders of her father and cousin--even if it means losing her chance at love. The fantasy element--Suzume is a shadow weaver--could have been better developed, but the setting is well realized and readers will be caught up in the story.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
(4)
YA
As Zira trains to become a warrior priestess, the only clue to her past is her badly scarred face. Then an attack on her home reawakens her memories, revealing that she is heir to a dispossessed kingdom and niece to its evil king. Zira is a strong heroine who deals with compelling problems, but the villain's motivation is utterly mystifying.
Reviewer: T. Borregaard
(3)
YA
Alexandra's mother dies before explaining the full power of Alexandra's heritage. Alone, Alexandra must find her strength, rescue her brothers who have been turned into swans by their wicked stepmother, and restore health to the kingdom. Marriott's evocative prose and cleverly twisting plot develop her strong heroine beyond the confines of a fairy tale.
Reviewer: Becky Levine
5 reviews
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