Manifest

Gr 9 Up--This sequel to Muse expands on the alternate history where America has a monarchy, stepping back from the magic and science aspects of the first installment to focus on politics. Claire has found the freedom she always wanted in her marriage to Remy despite its consequences, and she uses it to assist in a revolution that might end the American monarchy. The plot is rather too convoluted to come together without some deus ex machina, and Claire's romance with Remy feels unfinished in many ways. An author's note explains that the series is supposed to be a commentary on the perils of white feminism, but sadly it misses the mark. VERDICT Not recommended for purchase.

The conclusion to the intrigue-heavy duology set in an alternate America sees its protagonist fomenting revolution. Following the events of Muse (2021), Claire and Gov. Remy Duchamp, now her husband, are stuck in temporary exile in Wardenclyffe Tower after an attempted coup to overthrow Remy. As Remy recovers from his wounds, he keeps himself apart from Claire, giving her the freedom she has always yearned for even though she's nursing a broken heart. But survival comes first, and to secure that for herself and those she cares for, Claire needs to be a worthy adversary to the soon-to-arrive King Washington, initiating a series of events that may well lead to the end of the First American Kingdom. This entry walks back from the magic and science of the first book to concentrate on politics with a convoluted plot featuring underdeveloped plans and deus ex machina. Claire's feminist struggles and the light shed on the subjugation of women are highlights. However, there is a tension between the goal professed in the author's note to write "a commentary on the perils of white feminism, of what happens when those women grab what they can from the patriarchal buffet, and damn everybody else," and this story that centers two White leads in an America in which slavery never existed and Native Americans are invisible. The romance between Remy and Claire unfortunately feels unearned and would have benefited from deeper exploration. Underwhelming. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.