A thrilling and satisfying duology closer.
Two teens lead the fight against aliens when a pioneering space journey goes badly wrong.
In this chilling sequel to 2025’s Titan of the Stars, the stakes are higher than ever. The luxury spaceship Titan, which left Earth amid high hopes, has crashed on Mars. The aliens—whose presence on board was unknown to most of the passengers—have broken free and are inhabiting human bodies, treating each one like a “personal incubator.” A virus is ravaging the remaining survivors. Dominic Reubens, whose wealthy parents invested in the project, and engineer Ren Bailey, part of the team that built the ship, are concerned about Ren’s best friend and fellow engineer, Celeste Sparrow, who seemingly sacrificed herself when the wrecked Titan was being evacuated but is now on Mars, alive in the medical bay. Celeste has complicated relationships with both Dominic and Ren, partly due to being inhabited by an alien. Is Celeste strong enough to oust the alien from her body? Will Dominic and Ren give up on her as they fight for survival? The point of view alternates between Dominic and Ren, a departure from the previous book, which was narrated by Dominic and Celeste. This shift fuels and deepens the story, as Ren’s grit and determination become the heartbeat of this phase of the Titan’s legacy. Johnston sticks the landing as she explores social tensions among the crew members, who face elevated terrors. Central characters read white.
A thrilling and satisfying duology closer. (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781774884119
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
