Review by Booklist Review
Told from the rotating first-person points of view of three sophomores at a boy's boarding school in the 1990s, this is a frank exploration of the meaning of friendship and family. The three boys come from different backgrounds and experiences, but one thing unites them: all three are gay at a time when being out is not easy. There is, however, a gay community at Blackfriars School, concealed as a secret society called the Vicious Circle. The society meets in a forgotten area of the campus, and Zooey, new to the school, is introduced to the Vicious Circle by roommates (and partners) Daniel and Leo. Another campus secret society--the Oldfellows, comprised of influential Blackfriars alumni--has imprisoned a demon to do their bidding. The two societies clash with a huge impact on all three boys, and even on the future. The narrative is gripping and intense, and the three protagonists are remarkable in their individual voices. Mientus also neatly folds in an exploration of the struggles of being gay in the '90s, many of which still exist today.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Three queer teens reckon with supernatural powers beyond their control in this sweeping work of dark academia by Mientus (the Backstagers series), set in the early 1990s. Students Leo, Daniel, and Zooey have bonded over the fact that they all like boys. While Zooey "wouldn't, couldn't, admit it," he's relieved when Daniel and Leo welcome him into their Massachusetts all-boys boarding school's secret gay club, the Vicious Circle. After the homophobic bullying of Zooey by classmates outside VC takes a severe turn, Daniel and Leo share the grimoire with which they've been experimenting, which contains spells they believe can help him manage his torment. The powers they summon, however, and their devastating consequences, leave the trio struggling to protect themselves from unpredictable paranormal forces. The teens perform spells that lean into anti-semitic stereotypes, referencing conspiracy theories regarding Jewish peoples' control over "the systems of the world." Alternating perspectives explore myriad facets of queer experiences and their intersections with race and class, and fantastical occult happenings adeptly intertwine with real-world issues such as conversion therapy and the AIDS crisis. An author's note contextualizes instances of sexual violence. Zooey is white and Korean; Daniel is Black; Leo is white-cued. Ages 14--up. Agent: Michael Mahan, Peikoff Mahan. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Queer teenagers unleash literal and metaphorical demons. In 1991, Zachary "Zooey" Orson Jr. leaves his fancy Upper East Side high school after a scandal involving a teacher and is starting his sophomore year at an even fancier all-boys boarding school in Adders Lair, Massachusetts. He's immediately targeted by both the school bully and the Vicious Circle, a well-established secret society of gay and bi students. Little does Zooey know that several VC members--campy queen Leo; his athlete boyfriend, Daniel; and Steven, who reads like a stereotype of an autistic person--have stolen a grimoire from the headmaster's desk and used it to make their lives a little easier. Homophobia and supernatural events collide, but after a delightfully intriguing first third, the story veers toward the sentimental. While an ancient evil force named Frateroth threatens the world via conspiracy tropes that, through referencing Hebrew and the control of banking, unfortunately evoke antisemitic stereotypes, the plot becomes bogged down with an overt desire to teach important lessons about history (ACT UP, Stonewall), racism (Zooey is White and Korean and passes as White; Daniel is Black), biphobia, and other topics through plot points that feel shoehorned-in and anachronistic flights of exposition. Teen readers with a taste for horror will have fun and they might learn something, but the two elements form an awkward whole. A ripping tale that ends up missing the mark. (author's note) (Horror. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
