Half Lost

Starred review from December 14, 2015
The Half Bad trilogy ends as strongly as it started in this conclusion to one of the finest recent examples of YA fantasy. Although the Alliance was nearly destroyed by the Council of White Witches, and Nathan’s father, the Black Witch Marcus, has been murdered, the ragtag rebellion continues. Nathan, never the most emotionally stable witch, is more fragile than ever, torn between the needs of the Alliance’s fight and his desire for revenge. The only thing that may save the Alliance is if Nathan persuades a powerful Black Witch named Ledger to give him an amulet that will make Nathan virtually impervious to injury. Green’s portrait of Nathan as a damaged mixture of good and evil, a sort of well-meaning monster, is masterly, and the series’ intensity and the author’s willingness to put her characters through enormous pain and transformative loss haven’t changed a bit. Powerful scenes of suffering, defeat, and—occasionally—triumph can be found throughout. Readers will finish this grueling, cathartic tale both relieved and satisfied. Ages 14–up. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Wilson, Rogers, Coleridge & White.