Runebinder

October 1, 2017
Another post-apocalyptic world gone mad.Tenn is a Hunter whose tattoo binds him to the powers garnered by the Spheres of Water and Earth, powers that rise in him against his will during an unexpected kraven attack. The monstrous, hybrid kravens and the evil necromancers have despoiled the modern world. The white teen and his comrades live at Outpost 37, a makeshift military post housed in a vacant hotel in Outer Chicago. Following the hunt, Tenn receives an unexpected visit from incubus Tomas, one of the most powerful Howls in the world, a servant loyal to the Dark Lady. For reasons unknown, Tomas wants to capture Tenn, and most of the book is built upon the question of why every powerful figure in the world wants to claim Tenn as their own. The fleeing Tenn is accompanied by powerful Sphere carriers sent to protect him, just the first of many to tell him that he is wanted by the Prophets. The slow build of the story becomes repetitive as it devotes itself to Tenn's desirability. The plot is at times buried in very graphic details, often sexualized, with too many villains to follow. Tenn's friends drop left and right, high casualties that leave readers with a Game of Thrones "everyone dies" feel--though without the compelling story. The busyness interferes with what should be a grounded series opener. Byzantine worldbuilding and high levels of gore plus a muddy plot equal reader dissatisfaction. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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November 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Set in the postapocalyptic landscape of the Midwestern United States, this series opener is a tale of magic gone wrong. Once, magical powers existed in harmony with the energy centers of the world. But the ruling Kin's lust for power transformed the once-beautiful use of magic into a world controlled by corruption and fear. Only the Hunters-those brave enough to fight off the Kin-may have enough power to fight back. But they will have to use the same magic that destroyed the world they knew in order to do it. Now Tenn, one of the Hunters, has to choose to fight and risk losing his life or to remain in a world where everything he once loved has already been lost. Tenn's voice crackles with sarcasm and humor, despite the hopeless situation in which he is living. His yearning for something more is resonant of teens' desire to move beyond the confines of their parents' world and into something grander of their own making. Tenn's romantic pursuits will also keep readers interested. Will he choose Jarret, a Hunter like himself? Or will he go for Tomas, the sexy but cunning member of the Kin? The dialogue between characters is quick and easy and keeps the novel moving at an even pace. VERDICT Recommended for fans of dystopian fiction and fantasy.-Tabitha Nordby, Red River College, Man.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 The world ended when magic returned. People like Tenn discovered they had affinities for the different elemental magics and were sent away to study them, but where there is power, there is corruption. Now Tenn is a Hunter, fighting a losing war against the zombielike Howls raised by necromancers, while even bigger monsters, called the Kin, lurk in the background. Tenn has an affinity for Water and Earth magics, but when his Water magic begins to powerfully act without his guidance, and a dangerous incubus Kin begins visiting him, he knows that something bigger is happening. When Hunter Jarrett, a boy from his past, reappears, Tenn finds himself with potentially world-altering decisions to make. This fantasy-dystopia blend is action-packed from bloody start to unsettling end. The world building can be vague, and the secondary characters somewhat thinly drawn, but this is notable for its casual inclusion of a gay hero: Tenn is already comfortable with his sexuality, and his budding romance with Jarrett sweetly balances the action. An often gripping series starter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
In an America ravaged by elemental magic and the evil creatures created by its misuse, Tenn joins other humans--including alluring Jarrett--to survive. The immediate, intense connection between the young men becomes a liability when incubus Tomas attempts to recruit Tenn for the dark side. The unabashedly steamy (and welcome) same-sex love triangle that ensues distinguishes this high-stakes fantasy/dystopia from others in the genre.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)