Review by Booklist Review
In Szabo's new-adult dark fantasy, the story of River City--a magical city hidden within mundane America--begins with a coup. The king is overthrown, his wife murdered, and as a result, magic fades. Now, River City is home to a cutting-edge university and hospital, attracting elite scientists and desperate patients. Only the witches in the crumbling Old City remember: this is all part of an age-old cycle. Four queer young adults are fated to become the archetypes (the King, the Maiden, the Hero, and the Monster) necessary to renew magic but are unaware of the story forming around them--and they are waylaid by those who seek to control it. These striking characters narrate as their regular lives are touched by prophecy. This duology opener is a fascinating read with a vivid urban setting, queer characters and characters of color, and a difficult portrayal of police racism. However, Szabo's enigmatic storytelling leaves out far too much background to fully grasp the implications of the cycle of power and destruction integral to the story. A confusing yet irresistible read whose ultimate success hinges on the second book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hidden somewhere in the U.S. is the once prosperous River City, whose magic is waning after a revolution overthrew its last king and the witches who simultaneously ruled. Now, the city is controlled by its university hospital and police force, both of which operate with little accountability. But the prophesied cycle to replenish the dying magic is beginning again, centering four young people: white, gender-fluid newcomer Jesse Archer; Black physics professor David Blank; David's unnamed twin, a trans girl born with tentacles and "crimson skin"; and gay, white Jack Marley, who frequents River City's criminal underground. When their paths intertwine, they're embroiled in the mystery of a murdered policeman as they delve into the city's oppressive government amid magical conspiracy. Narratively, the city's lore, especially its revolution's history, is sometimes vague, but its streets are resplendent with both menace and whimsy, including a German shepherd crime boss. Interludes following secondary characters sometimes slow the pace, and a protagonist's decision, while true to life, frustratingly undermines the premise. Even so, Szabo (What Big Teeth) uses alternating third-person perspectives to tenaciously interrogate police violence and racism, making for a promising duology starter. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up--Four young adults are destined to become archetypal leaders in River City, a surrealistic fantasy world where the loss of magic has devastated the land and left an opening for corruption to take hold. After escaping an abusive home life, Jesse follows a promise left on a treasured postcard and takes a chance on a bus from the mundane world to River City. Once there, they discover that they can magically shift between a masculine and feminine presentation at will. Jesse soon connects with Jack, a scrappy enforcer for a local mob boss who ruthlessly protects her own. David, a young physics professor, is determined to trace the roots of magic and discover its secrets. Meanwhile, Turing, the "daughter of the river," is framed for murder when two police officers are killed, and her monstrous shape leads everyone to assume that she's guilty. Although Szabo's worldbuilding is creative and immersive, this novel suffers from uneven pacing and characterization. Excessive focus on Jack, who is up front about being "not a good person," often weighs down the story while Jesse, David, and Turing, far more sympathetic characters, are less developed. While this novel explores complex ideas like identity, fate, and systems of oppression, it feels unfinished. The four main characters represent a wide array of gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. Jack and Jesse are both white while David and Turing are of mixed descent. VERDICT An additional purchase for fans of surrealistic fantasy authors such as Kelly Link and Anna-Marie McLemore.--Catherine Cote
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Four queer people navigate a city that must learn to live without magic. It's been 20 years since River City's King Nathan the Giant lost to the rebellion, and the magic that once fueled the city has now dried up. Now, science rules its streets, as the university and teaching hospital attract newcomers who study the city's mysterious theta radiation. But there are vestiges of the old magic still. College lecturer David Blank stumbles upon a book of magic; Jesse Archer comes to the city looking for an old childhood friend; a nameless, tentacled girl with crimson skin witnesses the disposal of a body and helps Jack Marley, a curmudgeonly woman, investigate. David is Black; Jack and Jesse are White. The novel weaves in a storyline with an injustice related to race that has strong echoes in our world--the lack of consequences or reflection by the perpetrator, while realistic, may be frustrating to some. This first entry in a duology asks a lot of readers when it comes to immersion in the worldbuilding and lore--not much is spelled out at first, and it takes some time to be able to follow River City's inner workings. Once readers do settle into the text, however, its embrace of the strange and the outcast is quite soothing. Some readers will find comfort in this quirky novel. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
