VOYA - Erin E. Forson
Although Audrey is a seer, she has no idea who is murdering teenaged girls. Her mom is a superhero, the Morning Star, a woman who spends her nights in the Twin Cities preventing crime, and Audrey trusts her to find the killer. As attacks continue, Audrey’s psychic sense tells her that her mother may also be targeted, and Audrey may be the only one who can save her. This unique brew of superhero crime-fighting combined with the paranormal will appeal to readers of manga and mystery, but lovers of American graphic novels might be a little discouraged by the novel’s anemic start. The crushing cold and constant darkness, however, add tension and urgency to the plot, and enough questions arise about Audrey’s mysterious past to keep readers engaged, even if the early pages stall. Female readers will appreciate Audrey’s confidence and determination, and identify with her predicament as the underdog in a family of powerful women. Audrey has a tight bond with her mother and a close connection to her grandmothers, all of whom have magical powers. It is perhaps this feminine energy that drives Audrey’s desire to know more about her mysteriously absent father and to quarrel with her mother’s constantly present sidekick, Leon. Public and school libraries should choose this novel as a compliment to an already strong science fiction core. Ages 12 to 18.
School Library Journal
Gr 7–11—Eleventh-grader Audrey Whitticomb always assumed that her mother, Morning Star, was a typical vigilante. But after a terrifying encounter outside a local nightclub while investigating a mysterious attack on her best friend, Audrey learns the truth. She and her mother are Kin, members of a powerful ancient race that long ago adapted to life among humans. Morning Star battles Harrowers, bloodthirsty, demonic beings who covet the Kins' abilities. A war between these races is brewing, and Audrey knows her psychic powers could help turn the tables. First, though, she must shake her mother's handsome, but annoyingly overprotective sidekick. Leon follows Audrey everywhere, and she soon learns the reason for this. She alone possesses the power to save-or destroy-life as she knows it. Frenette's debut novel pairs paranormal elements with strong female characters to put a delightfully refreshing spin on the conventional superhero saga. Audrey is smart, funny, and self-sufficient, although her impulsiveness tends to get her into trouble, and even secondary characters come to life. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Karsten Knight will devour this action-packed book.—Alissa J. Bach, Oxford Public Library, MI
Kirkus Reviews
A superhero's daughter learns the truth about an ancient evil. Audrey Whitticomb is the daughter of Morning Star, a superhero who watches over Minneapolis. While Audrey's mother has heroic physical prowess, Audrey's talents lie in what her grandmother called her Knowing, so she's never contemplated fighting crime herself. But when high school girls start going missing and turning up dead, Audrey's mother's sudden overprotectiveness clues her into a larger picture. Morning Star doesn't fight crime at all, but rather hateful entities from the Beneath, the place where the Old Race who gave super-powered humans like the Whitticombs--called Kin--their abilities, originated. Why the whole city knows her as a superhero when she doesn't actually fight crime, but supernatural creatures that generally ignore normal humans is never addressed. A Kin connection to the murders and the secrecy of Morning Star and her teleporting, college-aged sidekick Leon force Audrey to investigate for herself, using her psychic abilities. Of course, this means danger and destiny. While the prose is generally prolix, a blink-and-miss-it climax follows some nifty plot twists. The main storyline is left unresolved for sequels. Decidedly more urban fantasy than comic book, Frenette's debut features a variety of characters and should please readers looking for paranormal without so much romance. (Urban fantasy. 12-16)
