The Island of Excess Love

June 9, 2014
Though filled with Block’s characteristically lush language and gorgeous imagery, this follow-up to Love in the Time of Global Warming lacks the adrenaline-charged urgency of its predecessor. Whereas the previous book drew inspiration from the Odyssey, this story is loosely based on Virgil’s Aeneid, opening with a murky series of hallucinations and events that drive Pen, her lover Hex, her younger brother Venice, and their friends away from their home and onto an abandoned ship that has appeared out of nowhere. A shipwreck lands the group on a paradisiacal island ruled by an antlered king. Despite Pen’s best intentions, she is drawn to the king and is eventually unfaithful to Hex. This act shatters the island’s illusions and propels Pen on a journey to seek redemption. Stirring as these events may sound, the net result is muffled. Because so much of the story revolves around Pen’s visions and dreams, the plot loses momentum, and the classical allusions and parallels feel comparatively forced this time around. Ages 14–up. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic.

May 1, 2014

Gr 10 Up-It's been several months since Pen reunited with her friends and brother at the conclusion of Love in the Time of Global Warming (Holt, 2013). The time since then has been spent peacefully, and they are growing food and making do with meager supplies. But when an empty ship appears in the waters outside her family home, Pen begins to have visions of a destiny she's not eager to explore. Despite misgivings, the group has no choice but to flee to the ship when pursued by a Giant. After a perilous journey, they end up on an island with a boy king who is skilled at illusions. He believes Pen is his queen. Pen's lover, Hex, disagrees, but Pen and the others are under the king's spell. Can they save their friendship and survive a journey through the underworld? The language and imagery are beautiful but haunting. This time, the story parallels Virgil's The Aeneid, and the characters turn to the epic poem for guidance while also seeing it as an omen. This novel is for mature readers, as there are some graphic love scenes. For fans of the first book, this will be a treat, but new readers should check out the previous installment.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Grades 9-12 In this companion to Love in the Time of Global Warming (2013), Block returns to her postapocalyptic setting. Pen; her little brother, Venice; her lover, Hex; and their friends Ez and Ash are living peacefully in a pink house by the sea when a giant appears and the group flees to a boat that proves to be bewitched and piloted by ghosts. Ultimately they are delivered to the Island of Excess Love, where the island's antler-headed king welcomes Pen as his queen. Events conspire to send them fleeing again, this time to the Island of the Shades, where they descend into the underworldwhich has a queen of its own. Will they be doomed to an eternal waking death? Just as Block's earlier novel was loosely based on The Odyssey, this is even more loosely based on The Aeneid. The result is a mesmerizing, magical, and mysterious tale of love and loss, stories and visions, and betrayal and redemption, all told in the author's signature lyrical voice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)