A page-turner that’s filled with twists and turns.
Following her sister’s suspicious death, a girl vows to uncover the truth and avenge her.
Indira Harrak is shocked to learn that her older sister, Rowenna, the crown princess, has died under mysterious circumstances while serving as a captive bride in the kingdom of Vanzador. Plagued by Marauders, the kingdom of Tashir was forced into a harsh treaty with Vanzador that included tributes of bagrava, the sacred plant that keeps Tashir fertile and can only be cultivated by master gardeners like Indira. The treaty also required a Tashiri princess as a bride. In return, the Vanzadorian king created a mountain range to keep invaders out of Tashir. To protect her people, Indira must now marry her sister’s widower—and possible murderer—Prince Alaric. When she arrives at Vanzador’s mountain Fortress, nothing matches the terrible descriptions in Ro’s letters. Indira is convinced that the differences are a clue to something her sister wanted her to know. She also uncovers the reason for the Vanzadorians’ endless demand for bagrava. As Indira navigates the Fortress, intriguing characters lead her toward the truth—and attraction sparks between her and Alaric. The deeper she ventures into Vanzador’s mysteries, the more Indira questions how well she knew Ro and what secrets her new home may be hiding. Thorley skillfully blends political intrigue, romance, magic, and mystery into a story filled with betrayals and shocking reveals that build toward a thrilling conclusion. All main characters are light-skinned.
A page-turner that’s filled with twists and turns. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781728283036
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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