School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Once a grass-filled landscape, Elysium is now a lackluster desert defenseless against the strong winds in the area. The apocalyptic nature of the world is established with the story opening on Black Sunday, a day historically referring to one of the most severe dust storms. It is in the midst of this upheaval that Sal Wilkerson introduces readers to the community's history. They received the message that they'd been chosen by the Goddesses of Life and Death as pawns in a 10-year game of survival. If they can repair the mistakes brought on from their misuse of the land and eliminate the social barriers of race, gender, and class differences, their society will be deemed responsible and allowed to continue living in their rejuvenated state of happiness. Otherwise, they will lose and Death will win. Utilizing alternating viewpoints of a diverse array of characters from Latinx, Indigenous, and Black populations, Pentecost creates a gallery of rounded and complex personalities. Readers who enjoy apocalypse-infused danger will enjoy this neo-Westernized dystopian world filled with the good and evil magic of witches and demons, LGBTQ romance, steampunked mechanics, and hero moments. VERDICT Recommended as an additional title selection to fill out dystopian and/or retrofuturistic sci-fi.--Sabrina Carnesi, Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA
Publisher's Weekly Review
Debut author Pentecost's ambitious Dust Bowl--inspired dystopia pulses with dramatic scenes. After a 1935 dust storm decimates the Oklahoma Panhandle, Goddesses Life and Death challenge those remaining to establish order, building a city and tithing crops for 10 years, before their fate is determined. With four months to go, the town of Elysium, under the leadership of witch Mother Morevna, faces racial inequality, rising Dust Sickness, and infiltrating bandits, creating doubts as to the walled city's future. When ailing Mother Morevna names 17-year-old outcast Sal Wilkerson her successor, Sal submerses herself in learning magic until Asa Skander, an otherworldly newcomer chosen by Life as a Wildcard, threatens Sal's position. Following a witches' duel, Sal is cast into the desert surrounding Elysium, where she meets a band of tenacious female scavengers who may be the city's only hope in fighting the coming Dust Soldiers and winning against Death. Pentecost switches viewpoints as chapters count down the months and days until Elysium's judgment; action-packed scenes and dialogue can sound stilted, but an imaginative premise and questions of free will vs. fate prove captivating. Ages 12--up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Apr.)
Kirkus Review
Debut author Pentecost mixes base notes of dystopia with steampunk and mythic fantasy in Depression-era Oklahoma. On April 14, 1935, Black Sunday, 6-year-old Sal Wilkerson and her fellow townspeople come face to face with the Dust Soldiers, minions of the goddesses Life and Death, who present a terrifying challenge: They have been unwittingly thrust into the Game and given 10 years to establish an equitable and harmonious society or face annihilation. The community galvanizes behind the enigmatic bruja, Mother Morevna. As the end of the decade nears, Mother Morevna names Sal her Successor, taking her on as an apprentice in the magical arts. Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger with unexplained knowledge of the Game arrives at the gates of Elysium. Sal must use her skills to discover the truth and reveal secrets hidden by her mentor, the stranger, and the marginalized victims who fight for survival beyond Elysium's walls in order to win the Game. In this matriarchal society where young women are gifted with magical ability, race becomes a major source of conflict. Though the book tackles themes of intersectional feminism and what it means to build a more just world, big reveals and climactic moments often feel perfunctory and rushed, leading at times to awkward pacing. Sal is white; her best friend is black; the supporting cast includes Mexican American and Native characters; and there is a same-sex romance.A not-always-successful genre-bender that is sure to find a niche. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
As Oklahoma suffers through the Dust Bowl, the people of Elysium find themselves facing new terrors. Two immortal sisters, Life and Death, have chosen the town for a deadly game. Elysium has 10 years to create a good, responsible city, according to the sisters' judgements; if they fail, then Death wins the game, and every inhabitant will be slain. In 1944, as the game nears its end, 17-year-old Sal Wilkinson is learning from Elysium's witch. But when Sal makes a terrible mistake, she is cast out into the desert with only her magic and a mysterious, potentially demonic stranger. With the apocalypse coming, Sal has to find allies where she can; a group of girls with wild magic, mechanical horses, and fierce bonds may just hold the key. There are a lot of strands in this layered, fast-paced debut, and Pentecost sometimes loses her grip on a few of them. Still, the dystopian Western setting is enticing, the girl power is undeniable, and this high-concept adventure has all the right ingredients to hook an enthusiastic readership.
