Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Arthie Casimir's crew is in shambles. Her chosen brother Jin doesn't trust her. She and Jin are full vampires. Flick is in hiding. If their last (failed) con unified the group as a crew, trying to get justice against the Ram will cement their bonds in this duology conclusion. The dedication to colonialism ("you suck") telegraphs the incredibly relevant though sometimes heavy-handed messaging of the series. Lush prose and lengthy descriptions set the scene and continue to expand the world of White Roaring from Arthie, Jin, and Flick's perspectives. While some twists are clearly broadcast and Arthie's romance feels underwhelming, Faizal's vibrant characterizations make this a double-header worth following. VERDICT A satisfying conclusion to an intricately built series.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The gang gets back together after the catastrophic events ofA Tempest of Tea (2024). Arthie Casimir and her brother, Jin, managed to uncover the real identity of--and steal a ledger with incriminating evidence about--the Ram, monarch of Ettenia, but their crew, a mix of vampires and humans, is irrevocably changed. The revelation of a secret leads to a rift between the siblings, the Ram is still in power, and now humans are going missing, with blame unjustly falling on the vampires. To take down the colonizer of her birth country, Arthie must get everyone to work together again, travel back to her homeland of Ceylan, and pull off her most daring heists yet. With chapters alternating among the perspectives of Arthie, Jin, and Felicity "Flick" Linden--a skilled forger and Jin's love interest--this genre mashup set in an intricate fantasy world combines exciting action and adventure, heartfelt romance, and complex paranormal beings, all while feeling relevant to real-world issues. The trio of non-white leads face racial prejudice among other hardships in a society that constantly underestimates them. The plot takes a little while to really get started, but once the action amps up, there are plenty of tense and impassioned moments. The ending satisfyingly wraps up the main conflicts and is sure to evoke a strong emotional response from invested readers. An exciting and bittersweet ending to a compelling duology. (map)(Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
