Dark of the West

March 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-War is brewing between the North and the South as General Dakar slowly overthrows small nations. Aurelia, a princess in a small Northern nation, desperately wants to attend university and does not wish to get married to create alliances. While she studies hard and mourns the death of her father, the king, Aurelia's brother and mother strategize to keep their kingdom safe from the rebels and the ambitious general. Athan, the third son of General Dakar, has no desire to fight in the never-ending war and would rather be free to fly planes, but when his father forces him to make nice with Princess Aurelia to spy on the North, Athan finds himself in the middle of the conflict. This fantasy opens near the end of the war, where readers follow the budding relationship of the defiant Aurelia and strong soldier Dakar. The remaining story is told through flashbacks of how Aurelia and Athan met, fell in love, and were torn apart. Teens will learn a little bit about the fate of other characters and are introduced to the antagonist in the opening chapter, which provides intrigue and foreshadowing. Although there are some unique plot twists and fighter plane action, familiar character arcs and fantasy-world conflicts are on display here. VERDICT Recommended for large collections where war strategy and combat-filled fantasy are popular.-Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

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March 15, 2018
Fantasy without magic, historical fiction without facts: Hathaway's debut defies classification.In a fantasy world featuring early-20th century technology, royals descended from one common ancestor rule the North--except for a new nation under the dictatorship of Gen. Dakar--while the South descends into chaos. This world includes military women and brown-skinned royals, although both remain exceptions. White Athan, the general's youngest son, is a reluctant military pilot; he just wants to run away and fly his beloved planes in peace. Biracial, brown-skinned Aurelia is a Northern princess with a Southern mother who loves horses, dreams of a university education, and believes she is superior for being royal. When the two finally meet as part of a fact-finding mission, sparks fly, although the prologue warns that their Romeo and Juliet-style romance is probably doomed. The politics are subtle and complex, even if the characters sometimes are not, and everyone lies, leaving readers confused. This is a novel about ambition and war, occasionally drowning in details, and much of this series opener sets up the world, with the bulk of the action crammed into the final chapters. Grief and the horrors of war loom larger than the romance, although the love letters are swoon-y.Those who stick around for this slow ride will be left eager to know how events play out. (map) (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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April 2, 2018
In this slow-burning debut historical fantasy, an illicit romance between a princess and a pilot blooms against the backdrop of a world at war. Athan, the youngest son of the cunning General Dakar of Savient, wants nothing to do with his father’s military and political ambitions, but when his mother is murdered, he’s forced to play a role as pilot and undercover operative. Then he meets the innocent Princess Aurelia of Etania, whose indomitable mother stands between the general and his ultimate goals of conquest, and he dares not reveal his true parentage, even after a relationship unexpectedly develops. Meanwhile, a complicated web of alliances, deceptions, betrayals, and intrigues threatens to drag previously unaffected lands into the escalating conflict, and Athan and Aurelia must find a way to prevent matters from growing worse. The leisurely pace and some overwrought prose slow the novel’s momentum. However, once the plot gets underway, the charismatic characters, lush descriptions, a setting inspired by World War II–era Europe, and a charming if subtle romance offer rewards for readers. Ages 12–up. Agent: Steven Salpeter, Curtis Brown.