Teen Tuesday

Half Lost (Half Bad Trilogy #3) by Sally Green (Viking hardcover, 29 March 2016).

In Half Wild, the previous volume of this trilogy, Annalise, the former romantic partner of protagonist Nathan, kills his father, Marcus. 

In this book, Nathan is obsessed with tracking down Annalise, though he’s not exactly sure what he’ll do when he finds her.  Nathan and his new lover, Gabriel, are part of the Alliance, whose purpose is to eliminate the evil Council of White Witches.

As always, Nathan is moody and reticent, even more so since the death of his father. While he’s been developing the magical powers he inherited from Marcus, he has also been killing groups of the Council’s Hunters as he comes across them. 

His killing spree worries Gabriel and Alliance leaders, and he has to work hard to repress the evil part of him. 

The climax of the story, where Nathan leads Alliance fighters as they invade the Council’s headquarters is violent and bloody, but not unexpectedly so.

The result of the battle, and the story’s denouement are unexpected, and the conclusion of the tale is emotionally wrenching, but fitting for this tale. 

Those who have read the first two volumes of the trilogy will read the enthralling finale eagerly, and should, ultimately, be satisfied.

VERDICT Essential for libraries that own the first two books in the trilogy. Purchase multiple copies if possible.



This review was originally published in School Library Journal Mar. 2016: 153.

YA Thursday

The Keeper of the Mist by Rachel Neumeier (Knopf hardcover, 8 March 2016).

Everyone knows that Keri's father is the Lord of Nimmira, even though she's had nothing to do with him since she was born. 

Since her mother's death, Keri has been running their bakery on her own, just managing to keep it afloat. So she has reason to be surprised when the country's Timekeeper walks through the door and informs her that Lord Dorric Ailenn has died and Nimmira has chosen her as the new Lady. 

When she tries to protest, the Timekeeper reiterates that Keri is the chosen one and whisks her off to the Lord's--now Lady's--House in the center of the town. Keri's three older half-brothers, who were raised in Lord Dorric's House, are not happy at being overlooked and treat her as a silly girl, attempting to undermine her at every chance. 

When visitors from outside the country arrive, she discovers that her father was not an honest man. Keri realizes that she's the only one with the common sense to rule Nimmira, but she has to determine whom she can trust to support her. 

VERDICT This is a beautifully written story that emphasizes intelligence and diplomacy. Recommend to fans of Patricia Wrede and Tamora Pierce, as well as lovers of traditional fantasy.





FTC Full Disclosure:  I received an Advance Review Copy of the book from School Library Journal for review purposes.  

This review was originally published in School Library Journal:
Beebe, Marlyn. "Neumeier, Rachel. The Keeper of the Mist." School Library Journal Jan. 2016: 100.