Beneath the Burning Wave

September 15, 2022
On an ancient island, the birth of twins could mean salvation--or absolute destruction. Twins on Mu have never been allowed to live past birth, until Kaori and Kairi were born. Growing up on an island controlled by the Experienced, who have organized society based on the type of work an individual performs for the community's survival, the two are viewed as complementary halves of a whole, but they are rarely in harmony. Where Kaori has the ability to manipulate water, Kairi manipulates fire, and neither can control their impulses or see eye to eye with the other. As a prophesied fate looms and the chasm between the twins grows, they challenge the leadership of the Experienced, with devastating consequences. Ambitious in scope, though sometimes falling short of the mark with underdeveloped relationships between characters, this fast-paced novel explores the fall of a fabled civilization, subjugation and gender roles, pain and manipulation, and more. Mu symbology incorporates both Egyptian and Japanese elements, reflecting the people's mixed heritage. Most characters have both same- and opposite-sex romantic and sexual encounters, and all are referred to by gender-neutral pronouns. While refreshing stylistically, in a society that is deeply divided by traditional binary gender roles, this apparent genderfluidity is hard to understand, and later complications are underexplored. A strikingly different trilogy opener. (author's note, content note, resources, glossary, note about worldbuilding) (Fantasy. 14-adult)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.