The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco (review)

In a world literally stopped in its spin and split in two by a failed ritual involving twin goddesses, four teens journey toward the breach in the world. On the night side of the planet are Lan, a healer-warrior, and Odessa, magically gifted daughter of the goddess Asteria; on the daylight side are Arjun, a desert scavenger, and Haidee, mechanical prodigy and daughter of the goddess Latona. Romances blossom and secrets about the failed ritual are uncovered, including revelations about a connection between the long-separated Odessa and Haidee. Chupeco (The Heart Forger, BCCB 4/18) brings her deft horror hand to a full-fledged epic fantasy; the various dangers the teens encounter are by turns terrifying and humorous, and the chapter titles add a wry touch of metacommentary. However, the stalled world and its mythology, inspired by the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna's descent to the underworld, are fascinating but frustratingly underexplored, as are some characters' ability to manipulate or "gate" elemental patterns in the environment; additionally, the tactic of delayed or missing exposition is overused. Nonetheless, a sequel promises opportunities to address some of these gaps and resolve tantalizing questions about the fate of the characters and their world.