The Mirrored Shard

January 15, 2013
Aoife finally gets some sense, and the series ends. The third and presumably final volume of the Iron Codex series (billed as a trilogy but with an open ending) sees, in the final pages, a slight maturation of selfish, generally unlikable heroine Aoife. It may be too little too late, coming as it does after another stubborn journey in which she pretends her own foolish actions didn't ensure the destruction of the world and instead turns her magical powers and remarkable perseverance (her one redeeming trait) to trying to rescue her bad-boy boyfriend from the Deadlands, since a previous foolish action of hers got him killed. Secondary characters seem to exist only to get Aoife out of trouble, as when Cal and Conrad rescue her from Alcatraz. The narrative is full of directly contradictory characterization and statements (starting with Aoife's freeing of Draven, right through to the way the Deadlands is described as cold and then hot and then cold). Even fans may find the episodic action doesn't hold their attention, since most of it doesn't seem driven by anything other than plot requirements, but completists and those who really care whether or not Aoife can rescue Dean from death will be glad to have their questions answered. Everyone else, don't bother. (Steampunk/fantasy. 12 & up)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-In this conclusion to the series, Aoife Grayson is stuck in Thorn Land, which is populated by the Fae. The teen is destined to be the Gateminder, a person with the gift of creating "Gates" to other realms, but she is mired in a deep emotional hole of guilt. Aoife blames herself for her boyfriend, Dean, being stuck in "Deadland" and opening a Gate that plunges the world into an epidemic. It takes a couple of chapters for her to get a grip and for the plot to get going. However, once the action does pick up, Aoife's primary focus is on rescuing Dean while saving the world from an apocalyptic ending brought about by the "Old Ones," with reconciling with her family coming in at a distant second. Readers who enjoyed the details of the earlier books will find this final title more streamlined. The previous novels also have more steampunk elements in them; this installment, in contrast, leans more toward dark fantasy. On her journey, Aoife shows maturity and learns to put others' needs before her own. The various plotlines all come together in the end, but with the Old Ones' threat to return, Kittredge creates an open ending, leaving room for spinoffs. Purchase where the other volumes are popular.-Sabrina Carnesi, Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2013
Grades 7-12 Steampunk fans will welcome back spunky Aoife Grayson, half human, half fae. At 16, Aoife's allergy to iron kicked in, forcing her to leave the Iron Lands, where she was an engineering student. Now living with her mother in the Faerie kingdom, Aoife is determined to travel to the Deadlands and save her boyfriend, Dean. She gathers her shape-shifter friend Cal and her brother and sets out to rescue her dead boyfriend. Think Eurydice saving Orpheus, with zeppelins, clockwork, and a special appearance by Nikola Tesla. While readers new to the series may feel lost, those who have enjoyed Aoife's adventures will appreciate this fast-paced read in the Iron Codex series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Aoife's determination to retrieve Dean from the Deadlands leads to adventures in the Thorn Land, the Iron Land, and beyond. Meanwhile, Aoife's destiny as a Gateminder is clarified and relationships with family members are repaired. An excessively complicated fantasy universe will prevent new readers from easily entering the series (The Iron Thorn; The Nightmare Garden), but fans may enjoy the tidy resolution.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)