Foreign Wrath by Kristina Adair
Lilly Dobbs always assumed she was human.
Her life hasn’t exactly been normal, per se — an orphan twice over, she’s been stuck in the foster care system since she was nine, bounced from one home to another. But that’s just bad luck — surely there isn’t a bigger reason for all her misfortune, right?
That entire sense of reality shatters when Lilly reunites with her long-lost brothers. In a matter of days, she must move to a new town, adjust to life with a new family and gain control of strange abilities that have begun to plague her. Because it seems these powers aren’t a stress-induced hallucination; they’re a mark of who and what Lilly is.
Kristina Adair’s riveting young adult novel Foreign Wrath blends the impossibility of science fiction with the relatable woes of high school. This multifaceted narrative will grip readers as they watch Lilly test her limits to find out just what she’s capable of.
A UNITED FRONT AGAINST DANGER
When Lilly is adopted by her brother Shawn, she’s certainly not expecting three other brothers as well — David, John and Randy. Even less expected is the news that not a single one of them is from this world. Everything Lilly Dobbs — now Lilly Kar — knew about herself is a lie. Now she must scramble to catch up on learning about her newfound powers, all while hiding her true parentage. It seems that being a member of the Kar family is a dangerous thing — and Lilly isn’t the only one realizing her true identity. Old family enemies are reappearing, hellbent on vengeance and more than happy to use Lilly’s inexperience for their own personal gain.
One of Foreign Wrath’s biggest strengths is its strong themes of family. Throughout the story, Lilly must learn to fit into this household that she’s only recently become a part of. After years of living in the foster care system, she struggles to open up and be emotionally vulnerable. And it’s not easy for her brothers, either — despite their closeness, the siblings rarely sees eye to eye and sometimes struggle to keep cool heads. But when push comes to shove, the Kars come together as a united front to protect each other from outside danger. Adair stresses that families are strongest when they’re together, knowing that everyone is there to support one another.
All while weaving this complex narrative, Adair adds the secondary plot of Lilly’s experience at her new school in a new town. Young readers will relate to her struggles to fit in, her run-ins with bullies and the overwhelming pressures of high school. The plotline helps cement the reality of Lilly’s situation — that she feels isolated and unusual among her peers, struggling to adjust to her new surroundings while also keeping her identity a secret. All of us can commiserate with the complicated emotions of high school, from the stress of academics to the social turmoil and peer pressure. Lilly is no exception to this and becomes all the more relatable for it; it seems that even supernatural abilities can’t help you when it comes to the education system.
Together, these plotlines combine into an engaging work of fiction that is sure to entertain. Readers will eagerly anticipate Lilly’s next big adventure as she learns to face her family’s enemies using her newfound capabilities — and with her brothers by her side.
*Note: some strong language may be inappropriate for younger audiences.
