A DIAMOND BRIGHT AND BROKEN

A teen with a rare magical ability is desperate to rescue herself and her disabled sister from their emotionally abusive parents.

Sixteen-year-old Cadence Alero views her ability to cry diamonds as a painful burden, especially since her parents fund their lavish lifestyle by forcing her to cry and keep her and her older sister, Allegro, confined at home. Though Cadence gladly cries to fund expensive treatments for Al’s neuromuscular disease, she longs for another way to help Al—and herself. When her parents, hoping to marry Cadence off to Prince Wendell, let the sisters attend King Pontifex’s Summer Solstice Ball, Cadence meets Raven, a mysterious, beautiful girl who reveals that Cadence is a mage. The two secretly leave for Kinephrus, the city to which the magi were banished, where Cadence anticipates receiving answers and aid from Archmage Sanora. Instead, she discovers family secrets—and vendettas that could cost her and Raven their lives. Despite its attention-hooking premise, Davis’ debut fizzles. Though the romance between Raven and Cadence (who’s cued bisexual) is vividly described, frequent exposition and two-dimensional villains blunt the emotional impact. And while Cadence’s love for Al is touching, comments such as “She’s helped me more than I’ve helped her” risk painting Al as an inspirational trope. The open ending suggests further adventures. Cadence and Al’s father has dark brown skin, and their mother is pale-skinned; Raven, Sanora, and many secondary characters have brown skin.

Unusual but underdeveloped.