Kirkus Starred Review for THE FARAWAY INN!

KIRKUS STAR for THE FARAWAY INN!!! What a fabulous way to finish out 2025! The first trade review for my forthcoming YA cozy fantasy is in, and it's a starred review from Kirkus! Thanks so much, Kirkus Reviews! Now I'm even more excited for what 2026 will bring! Out 3/31/2026! 

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-beth-durst/the-faraway-inn/

Kirkus Starred Review for SPY RING!

So excited to share that my forthcoming book for kids, SPY RING, got a STARRED REVIEW in Kirkus!!!!! Eeeeep! Thanks so much, Kirkus Reviews!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-beth-durst/spy-ring/

Kirkus Review of THE SHELTERLINGS

Absolutely thrilled with this lovely review from Kirkus for my next kids book, THE SHELTERLINGS! Holly would be SO happy to be referred to as an impressive rodent hero!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-beth-durst/the-shelterlings/

Starred Kirkus Review of THE STONE GIRL'S STORY!

Well, this totally made my day. The first trade review came in for my next middle grade book, THE STONE GIRL'S STORY (out 4/3/18). From Kirkus. And it's a STAR!!! When I saw it, I made a sound much like the sound my cat makes when she sees a bird out the window. Eeeeep!!! https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-beth-durst/the-stone-girls-story/

 

Excerpt from CHASING POWER

Two months until CHASING POWER comes out!!!  I can't wait for you all to meet Kayla!  She was so much fun to write.

I just added the first two chapters to my website, so you can get a taste of her story.  Here's how it starts:

Razor blade.

Thread.

Gum.

A ball of tinfoil.

A dull fishing hook.

Kayla checked each pocket in her jean shorts, knotted the straps of her bikini top tighter, and pulled on her favorite black hoodie. She frowned at her bare feet. She'd blend in better with flip-flops, but she could run better in sneakers, if anything went wrong. After a half second, she chose the sneakers. She believed in herself, but she also believed in the supreme idiocy of people and their tendency to interfere in the most inconvenient way possible.

Click here to read more.

If you're a reviewer, librarian, bookseller, or other publishing industry professional, please note that the eGalley (digital advance reader copy) of CHASING POWER is now available.  Click here to request it on NetGalley!

In related news, CHASING POWER received a lovely review from Kirkus:

"Snappy dialogue, snarky teens and explosive exploits. A quick but complex read -- enjoyable on both counts." -- Kirkus
 
As well as two blurbs from two wonderful writers:

"A riveting adventure tale. Action-packed, suspenseful and a lot of fun!" -- Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of the Blue Bloods series

"Chasing Power took me on a magical rollercoaster ride through dusty tombs and ancient catacombs at such breakneck speeds, the only thing I could do was tightly grip the safety bar and hope I made it through to the other side. Part Indiana Jones, part Jumper, the heroes travel faster than the speed of light but even that isn't quick enough for them to escape the treachery, mystery, and danger waiting around every corner." -- Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of the Tiger's Curse series

And I also got word last week that production has started on the CHASING POWER audiobook, which I'm really, really excited about.  I can't wait to hear what Kayla sounds like -- you know, outside of my own head.  (Kind of a freaky thing when the voices in your head start actually talking out loud...)

Anyway, I hope you all have been having a wonderful summer, and I hope you enjoy the excerpt from CHASING POWER!

Junior Library Guild Selection and Kirkus Review

Got some really lovely news today:

Conjured is a Junior Library Guild selection!!!

Junior Library Guild (JLG) is a collection development service for libraries.  Their mission is to read through the thousands of books published each year and select books that they believe will best enhance library collections.  This service is used by libraries all across the country, which means that Conjured will find its way onto lots of library shelves!  This makes me a very, very happy Sarah.  I feel so honored and so thrilled that Conjured was selected!

And in other really lovely news:

The first trade review of Conjured is out, and it's a great review!!  It appears in the July 1st issue of Kirkus.  The full review is on their site, but here's a snippet:

"Durst excels at describing grotesque violence and gorgeous magical transformations alike, painting a touching portrait of first love against a backdrop of Twilight Zone–type terrors." -- Kirkus

*shoots off confetti fireworks and does Snoopy Dance of Joy*

Thank you so much, JLG and Kirkus!!!

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year, everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's and a great start to 2013.

A few years ago, my husband and I started a New Year's Eve tradition that I love: we buy a ton of hors d'oeuvres (frozen mozzerella sticks, chips and dip, potstickers, taquitoes, cheese and crackers, etc.) and we eat them all as the clock clicks toward midnight.  Then we watch the ball drop on TV and clink the champagne glasses that we got as wedding presents and only ever use on New Year's Eve.

Of all the ways I've ever spent New Year's Eve, it's my favorite.

On New Year's Day, we watch the Rose Parade.  Some years I remember to eat black-eyed peas for good luck.  Usually I forget.  We also forget to buy a new calendar for the kitchen every single year.  That's practically a tradition now too.

This year, on New Year's Day, I had a lovely surprise.  I woke to find out that VESSEL was named a finalist for a Cybils Award.  This was a wonderful start to the new year.  VESSEL also had a lovely end to the old year: Kirkus listed VESSEL as one of the Best Books of 2012.  And YALSA's The Hub blog chose VESSEL's cover as one of the best covers of 2012.  So, yay, yay, and yay!

I am really excited about this year.  For the first time ever, I have two books coming out in the same year!  My next YA novel, SWEET NOTHINGS (title may change), will be out from Walker/Bloomsbury in fall 2013.  And my first novel for adults, THE LOST, will be out from Luna/Harlequin also in fall 2013.  THE LOST is the first in a trilogy.  I'll be posting more about both books on my website and blog in the coming months.

So... goodbye, 2012!  And hello, 2013! 

Wishing you heath and happiness (and lots of books) in the new year!

Kirkus Starred Review for Vessel!

Super excited to report that Vessel received its first trade review, and it's a starred review from Kirkus!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without further ado (though you should know that I am completely doing the Snoopy Dance of Joy as I type this), here's the review:

Vessel
By Sarah Beth Durst
(McElderry; ISBN: 9781442423763; September 2012; Fall catalog)

STARRED REVIEW.  When a summoning goes awry, Liyana must try to save her people and learn how to live for herself, in this sweeping adventure. Chosen as a "vessel" to host the Goat Clan’s goddess, Bayla, and abandoned when Bayla doesn’t come, Liyana finds herself alone in the desert. Korbyn, god of the Raven Clan, rescues Liyana and provides her with a purpose: find the four other vessels who are also missing deities. Soon, Liyana and Korbyn pick up stalwart Fennik (horse god Sendar), princess-y Pia (silk goddess Oyri) and angry Raan (scorpion goddess Maara). Besides the desert’s many dangers, the ragtag group faces the massed army of the Crescent Empire, led by a young Emperor and his malicious magician, Mulaf. The tribes need their gods to save them from illness, starvation and drought, but the gods need to possess vessels to work magic—an arrangement whose logic several characters begin to question. Liyana is self-sacrificing but not a saint; stubborn, loyal, and curious, she finds new reasons to live even as she faces death. Durst offers a meditation on leadership and power and a vivid story set outside the typical Western European fantasy milieu. From the gripping first line, a fast-paced, thought-provoking and stirring story of sacrifice.

Kirkus Review for DRINK, SLAY, LOVE!!!

Eeeeeeeee!!! Look what my editor just sent me -- the very first trade review for DRINK, SLAY, LOVE! And it's good!! Eeeeeeeeee!!!

Please excuse all my eeeeeeeeeee-ing, but I'm just so happy about this. (And relieved...) And HAPPY! (And RELIEVED!) It's hard to describe the intricate blend of emotions that authors experience when a new book is coming out. For me, there's a feeling of great accomplishment and joy, certainly, but no matter how proud I am of my work, there's always some anxiety too. And by "some anxiety" I mean TOTAL PANIC!!! Will they like it? Will they?! WILL THEY?!?! So when the first big trade publication comes out with their review, it's a tense moment to say the least. I hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and then... gritting my teeth... crossing my fingers... I... I... I totally wimp out and make my husband read it first. :) But I digress.....

Check out what Kirkus Reviews had to say about my new precious:


DRINK SLAY LOVE (reviewed on July 1, 2011)

A unicorn gives new life to the now-tired teen supernatural romance—kind of literally.

Being a teenager really sucks. But life is carefree for Pearl, 16 years old, beautiful, a born vampire with a hot boyfriend and tasty pickings at the all-night ice-cream stand. At least it seems carefree…until she’s stabbed by a unicorn. Suddenly, she can walk in the sun without burning up. She can attend school, make friends with kids who used to be prey and maybe even have a life away from her very scary mother. Her vampire kin can’t understand it—but they can hardly wait to take advantage of it. With the King of New England coming to initiate new members of the local clans into vampire aristocracy, Pearl’s family has been chosen to provide the feast. And what makes a better feast than the junior class? If only Pearl weren’t beginning to develop a conscience. What to do…stay loyal to family or preserve the life of her new BFF? Decisions, decisions. Combining a sense of humor with dark appeal of supernatural romance, this book is funny, scary and thought provoking all at once. Pearl is a feisty heroine who meets her match in the unicorn, who refuses to give up on her.

Even jaded fans of the supernatural will find fun in this one. (Paranormal. 14 & up)

-- Kirkus Reviews


Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Today, I am a very happy Sarah.

Kirkus Review of Enchanted Ivy

Kirkus, Kirkus, KIRKUS!!!

Kirkus is one of the big trade publications that review books. It has a reputation for tough reviews. It also has a name that's fun to say loudly while bouncing on your desk chair after receiving the news that KIRKUS LIKED ENCHANTED IVY!!!

Here is the full review:

"Blithe and flighty at the beginning, the protagonist and plot quickly darken and deepen in this fantasy and magical coming-of-age story set at Princeton. During Reunion weekend, a mysterious group of alumni offers high-school junior Lily Carter admission if she can find the Ivy Key and pass the Legacy Test. With the help of her dueling love interests -- tiger-haired Tye and knightly Jake -- and the gargoyles on campus, Lily finds the key, along with unexpected information about her late father, her addled mother and her esteemed grandfather. Discovering the key also triggers a war between the group that recruited her and the fantastic residents of a parallel world, whose battles engulf the campus. Durst deftly layers in mythologies, drawing upon the vaunted status of the Ivy League schools, students' stories and superstitions, common tropes of fantasy literature and the propaganda of war. A refreshing entry in the urban-fantasy field and a solid adventure tale." -- Kirkus

YAY!!!

30 days until Enchanted Ivy!

Kirkus Review for Out of the Wild

Out of the Wild got its first trade review today. Gulp. From Kirkus (one of the big trade journals that does book reviews). Double-gulp. And....... it was good!!! The following made Sarah a very happy Sarah...

From the June 1st issue of Kirkus:

"Having decided that they no longer want to live the same stories over and over again, fairy-tale characters have escaped The Wild (where fairy tales are nurtured) to lead ordinary lives in the real world. In its compressed form, The Wild lives under Julie Marchen's bed in her Massachusetts home, which is only just beginning to recover from its last incursion (Into the Wild, 2007). Julie and her mother, Rapunzel, realize that all is not well when Julie's father, the Prince, emerges, intent on living out his tale in his new environment. An energetic series of events causes the Prince to fulfill his identity repeatedly (he saves a princess, fights a dragon, etc.) and in doing this, he causes The Wild to grow—threatening the entire United States. Julie becomes a hero by making smart choices, developing courage and hanging on to her moral compass. This puzzle-like yarn seamlessly spans time and space, reality and fantasy. Fairy-tale-savvy readers will enjoy the inside jokes and be impressed by the overall intelligence of the writing. (Fantasy. 10-14)"

Yay!

Kirkus Thinks I'm Deep

INTO THE WILD got its Kirkus review today. For those not in the biz, Kirkus is one of the big trade journals that does book reviews. (Learn more about this here.) Twice a month they publish reviews of forthcoming books. And Kirkus is notorious for giving harsh reviews. The first two sentences of each is available for free on the Kirkus website, but you need a subscription to read the rest. $37.50 per month! And that's just for online access.

Well, tonight I found my name in the list of reviews. I stared at the first two sentences. They gave no indication of whether the review was good or bad. I stared some more. I realized that I could ask my editor or agent to find out what it said. On Monday! No, that's Memorial Day. On Tuesday! I began to go insane. And then, I did it. I plunked down $37.50 for a month's subscription. This made me feel kinda stupid. (But hey, if I skip lunch for the next few days I'll be even in no time. Right?) And then I was able to read my review. And now I'm much happier.

From the June 1 issue of Kirkus:

"Imagining something called "The Wild," which might eat your shoes while living under your bed, might be easier for a 12-year-old than an adult. But The Wild doesn't stay under Julie's bed for long, and its identity emerges quickly for all readers. Once unleashed, it threatens to take over the entire community where fairy-tale characters live peaceful, ordinary lives in suburban Massachusetts. Set free by someone making a wish at the "Wishing Well Motel," it now re-launches the characters into their stories. Julie, however, blames herself for setting the fairy-tale cycle in motion: She has wished that her mother not be her mother. She's tired of being odd without knowing why, of entertaining the seven dwarves for dinner, of being picked up by Cindy in her orange Subaru and hanging out in the hair salon her mother, Zel, operates. Zel enters The Wild immediately to free the fairy-tale characters and stop its progression. Julie enters it to save her mother—and to learn her true identity and about the absent father she longs for. Deeper than most rewritten fairy tales, this existential story is chunked with big ideas about the fairy-tale genre, yet the story is lightened with touches that will connect with its audience. (Fiction. 10-14)"

I'm deep. :) I like that.

Oh, before I forget. Could someone please remind me to cancel my subscription within the next 29 days? Otherwise I could be paying $37.50 a month for a looooong time...