Immortal dark

Eighteen-year-old twins Kidan and June Adane, who are of Ethiopian heritage, have always known that there is danger lurking in the dark. Dranaics, or vampires, worldwide have been magically constrained to feed only from members of particular families. These families also hold immense influence over society and their vampiric counterparts. As descendants of these infamous bloodlines, the twins have been raised away from vampire society. But when June goes missing, Kidan needs whatever power she can garner to find her. Using cruel means, Kidan learns the name of June's kidnapper: Susenyos Sagad, a Black dranaic and the only one still tethered to House Adane. To keep Susenyos from usurping her family's power, Kidan enrolls in the elite school he attends: Uxlay University. There she searches for her sister and finds herself inexplicably drawn to Susenyos, the society that offers her tremendous strength, and the violence she believes to reside within her. Debut author Girma reels readers in with a promise of dark and dangerous romances, then ensnares them with fully fleshed-out morally gray characters and the uniquely rendered lore and politics of the trilogy opener's vampiric world. Ages 14--up. Agent: Paige Terlip, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)

Gr 9 Up--When Kidan and her sister June were little, they were sent into hiding by their parents, away from vampires. But now that June has been kidnapped, and Kidan is charged (perhaps rightfully) with murder, Kidan is ready to reenter the vampire world, find her sister, and rid the world of blood drinkers for good. However, taking her rightful place as heiress to the house of vampire companions means enrolling in academy and living with Susenyos, the lone vampire to her family--not to mention potential suspect for June's kidnapping. Morally gray and outright murderous characters collide in a dark academia setting in Girma's debut. While the overabundant plot lines may be hard to track of, the lyrically rich writing and steamy tension will keep readers invested. Ever present danger and Kidan's constant playing with fire keeps the stakes sky high throughout. Characters can occasionally feel one-note, but the all-Black cast brings sorely needed representation to the genre. VERDICT Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House meets the rage of Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow in this romantasy. Recommended for those with a taste for dark academia and morally gray enemies-to-lovers.--Elisha Sheffer

An orphaned teenager tries to connect her sister's disappearance to their family's decadeslong relationship with vampires. Nineteen-year-old Kidan Adane wants nothing to do with her family's horrifying rules and traditions, which stipulate that Kidan and her sister, June, who are Black girls of Ethiopian heritage, must honor soul-binding contracts with dranaics, or vampires. After their parents died, the sisters were placed in foster care with Mama Anoet. For years, Kidan had thought they were safe from evil--until Silia, their maternal aunt, unexpectedly died, and June and Kidan became the last two living members of House Adane. When June is abducted in the middle of the night by an unknown assailant, Kidan traces the clues to Uxlay University, where worthy leaders are taught how to protect a hierarchical society in which humans and vampires harmoniously coexist. Kidan believes that June was taken by Susenyos Sagad, the formidable vampire who's bound to her family's bloodline. As she dives deeper into this cruel new world, the line between her hatred of Susenyos and her growing fascination with him begins to blur. Debut author Girma's trilogy opener offers a richly detailed, sweepingly imaginative narrative that artfully explores the dark heart of desire, rage, and loss through expansive worldbuilding. Kidan's powerful characterization is layered, and her journey toward the truth has been crafted with a cinematic eye. A fresh, arresting entry in the vampire genre that revels in violent, bloody delights. (map, content warning)(Fantasy. 15-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.