Black Bird of the Gallows

A teenage girl discovers what happens when the new boy next door is literally a harbinger of doom in this supernatural YA novel. Angie Dovage, 17, has a secret identity that only her two closest friends know about--but she's not a superhero: she DJs at a local club as "Sparo," disguised in a bright purple wig and big, green sunglasses. She also has other things that she'd prefer to keep hidden; for instance, she doesn't like talking about her childhood with an addict mother living in a Volkswagen van and how she was finally returned to her father's custody. But her new next-door neighbor and classmate, Reece Fernandez, may have even bigger secrets. Angie saw him with a strange man whose face impossibly transformed, right before her eyes. Reece also appears to have a private, haunting sorrow of some kind, and he's oddly alarmed by bees. As Angie has more encounters with him, it's eventually revealed that the face-changing man is a cursed creature called a Beekeeper whose bees' stings turn people into paranoid killers. As for Reece, he and his fellow crow people are also cursed and attracted to sites of tragic destruction. Despite this, Angie finds herself deeply drawn to him. She can't stop the cataclysm that will hit her town, but can she save herself, her friends, and Reece? One of the most successful elements of Kassel's debut novel is its mythmaking. Rather than drawing on tired tropes such as vampire, werewolf, or fairy lore, she creates an original set of cursed beings with hints of a still-wider mythology, including a mysterious figure called the Strawman. The face-changing man with bees crawling out of his mouth is the genuine stuff of nightmares. Reece's crow people are mysterious, but their actions are also based on real-life corvids' natural behavior. Kassel's characterization is also strong; for example, Angie's music and DJ persona give her a way to work through her issues and show her strengths. Some of the emotions on display can be rather melodramatic, but they're appropriate enough for teenagers, especially considering the novel's big events. A pleasingly original contribution to the paranormal-romance genre. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 25, 2017
When Angie Dovage falls for her sexy and enigmatic new neighbor, Reece Fernandez, she’s startled to discover several things about him: he’s a semi-immortal were-crow whose kind is cursed to feed from death and destruction, his flock has come to her small town as harbingers of a great disaster, and they are engaged in a long-running conflict with terrifying creatures called Beekeepers, who live to spread mayhem and chaos. Angie and Reece attempt to carve out happiness, but their fledgling romance is threatened by the catastrophes that await them. Kassel debuts with an engaging paranormal romance that features some unusual twists, though the more recognizable genre elements are overfamiliar (starting with the central romance between a teenage girl and an ancient supernatural being), and the story feels cramped, with a bit too much packed in. Assorted subplots involving high school mean girls and Angie’s secret life as a deejay are eclipsed by the near-apocalyptic events, and the supernatural worldbuilding begs for further exploration in future books (a sequel is planned). Ages 12–up. Agent: Beth Miller, Writers House.

December 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Angie feels an instant attraction to her new neighbor Reece when she meets him at the bus stop. But there's something unsettling about the boy he's with, whose face seems to change in front of Angie's eyes. As Angie gets to know Reece better, she learns that he's not the typical boy-next-door but someone, or something, caught up in ancient dark magic. Meanwhile, the face-changing boy is capable of death and destruction and has played a part in the downfall of Angie's now-dead mother. This is a paranormal teen romance with familiar themes. Angie sits with the band geeks and is bullied by the cool girl, but has a secret life as a DJ in a popular club. She and Reece fall in love, but his cursed, half-human existence means their romance appears doomed. In a massive environmental disaster, Angie saves the cool girl, who confesses that she is secretly jealous of Angie. There's some violence, swearing, and sexual references but nothing is particularly graphic. VERDICT While there are some rather predictable tropes, the author has created an interesting world of mythical and paranormal creatures that will appeal to avid fans of the genre.-Michelle Anderson, Tauranga City Libraries, New Zealand

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