Starred Review Roundup (4/24/2024)

Stars all around! These titles all received multiple starred reviews:

MASQUERADE by O.O Sangoyomi
9781250904294 | 7/2/24

“Sangoyomi’s debut novel, a loose retelling of the myth of Persephone, takes place in fifteenth-century West Africa. It paints a vibrant picture of the people, the colors, and the sights of the era for the reader. And nothing is better imagined than the character Òdòdó, a female blacksmith by trade. Her city, Timbuktu, is dependent on the work of the witch blacksmiths, even as it despises them. But a chance encounter with the Aláàfin, the warrior king of Yorùbáland, sweeps Òdòdó into political machinations, betrayal, and possibly even love. Òdòdó quickly realizes that even the smallest actions can have grave consequences.”—Booklist, starred review

“Sangoyomi’s novel showcases a reimagined pre-colonial West Africa in the 15th century, depicting the power of kings, courts, and family, plus one young woman’s quest to find her own path. Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi’s debut.”—Library Journal, starred review

CURVY GIRL SUMMER by Danielle Allen
9781250331045 | 6/11/24

“The chemistry between the couple sizzles, while the conversations between Aaliyah and her girlfriends and family, and Ahmad and his friends, provide more nuances to their personalities. A fat-positive romance that blends the witty repartee of a buddy comedy with sexual tension.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Readers will love the ending in this engaging, sensitive, and steamy book about feeling good and confident about yourself before looking for and finding love.”—Booklist, starred review

THE DAUGHTER’S WAR by Christopher Buehlman
9781250887672 | 6/25/24

“Galva dom Braga, the only daughter of a powerful duke, has enlisted in an experimental unit. She is a Corvid Knight and commands two giant birds that are the newest weapon the kynd have against their goblin invaders. The goblins are vicious, and Buehlman does not spare the reader descriptions of the atrocities committed during the battles. He excels at characterization, and readers will mourn the losses just as much as Galva does. THE DAUGHTER’S WAR is stark and serious like its main character. Fans of the previous book will relish this prequel, while those who have never read BLACKTONGUE will find much to enjoy in this unflinching look at family, loss, love, and war. Highly recommended for all fantasy collections.”—Booklist, starred review

“Now comes THE DAUGHTERS’ WAR, because the Gallardians’ daughters (aided by hard-to-defeat war-ravens) are all they have left to send into battle against the goblins. Readers who were caught up in the political shenanigans, hopeless battles, and pyrrhic victories of Brian McClellan’s IN THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING or Daniel Abraham’s AGE OF ASH will be enthralled, while those who like their grimdark fantasy to trip over into horror will find similarities between the characters of Galva and Alex Easton from T. Kingfisher’s WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT.”—Library Journal, starred review

HEAVENBREAKER by Sara Wolf
9781649375704 | 5/21/24

“The first installment of Wolf’s SF series chronicles a young woman’s quest to avenge the murder of her mother and destroy all of those involved in her death. While the SF elements are brilliantly done, it’s the insightful characterization and emotional vulnerability of Synali that powers this story. Her pain, incendiary anger, self-doubt, and ultimate courage will resonate with more than a few readers. Synali could be the next Katniss Everdeen—the potential is certainly there.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Wolf (SEND ME THEIR SOULS) launches a new trilogy with this breathtaking epic, masterfully weaving threads of science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, and mystery into a propulsive coming-of-age story. Six hellish months after the noble father that Synali Woster never met murdered her mother, she finally gets her revenge . . . Wolf balances the unflinching action with evocative worldbuilding, considerate characterization, and a thoughtful exploration of the hope found in quiet places. This astonishes.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

I WILL SHOW YOU HOW IT WAS: The Story of Wartime Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko
9781639733873 | 5/7/24

“A remarkable on-the-ground report from the Battle of Kyiv in 2022. War reporting is perhaps the most difficult branch of journalism. The book lives up to its title, with countless pages that are alternately heart-rending, stomach-churning, and even inspiring. This is an important story, and Ponomarenko tells it with passion and intelligence. A revelatory portrait of the horror and absurdity of the conflict spiked with much-needed threads of humanity and hope.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“In this masterful blend of memoir and reportage, Ukrainian journalist Ponomarenko covers the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine with rigor and surprising wit. Determined to combat the ‘shameless lies’ that Vladimir Putin used to justify Russia’s assault on Kyiv, Ponomarenko shares his on-the-ground observations of Ukrainian resistance. Such balanced takes and sardonic humor enliven the proceedings throughout. The results are lucid, stirring, and hard to shake.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

MARS HOUSE by Natasha Pulley
9781639732333 | on sale now

“A refugee forms an unusual alliance with a Martian senator who favors anti-immigration policies. Bonus: extra-large mammoths! Known for her twisty steampunk historical fantasy, Pulley turns to science fiction set a few generations from now to explore topics of political interest today: climate change, immigration, gender, political corruption.  Full of charming details and gender-bending gallantry, this imaginative thriller is a pleasure to read.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Bestseller Pulley (THE HALF LIFE OF VALERY K) astonishes in this thorny and addictive sci-fi romance. Pulley introduces some truly complex ethical and political questions. The worldbuilding is carefully considered, linguistically nuanced, and technologically fascinating. The unlikely love story between January and Gale, who, like all Natural Martians, is genderless, is the cherry on top. Their romance is touching in its simplicity . . . with dark humor and a gift for making the complex accessible, Pulley gives readers much food for thought.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review