ECHOES AND EMPIRES

A glam teen girl, a hardened criminal boy, and the forbidden magic that will either save or destroy them.

In the Empire of Regara everybody knows that magic is the source of all evil, and its users are punished by death. So when 17-year-old socialite Josslyn Drake comes into contact with a box that accidentally contaminates her with a type of dark magic that allows her to access the memories of the empire’s most infamous and dangerous warlock (the very one who killed her father), she will do everything to keep this fact a secret until she can have the magic removed from her body before it corrupts her soul. Temporarily allying herself with 19-year-old Jericho Nox, a dangerous (but gorgeous) blackguard who has his own secrets, is just the first step in a journey that turns into a roller coaster of magic, politics, and dark secrets. The first in a duology, this fun adventure fantasy is full of twists and genuinely entertaining, if slightly rushed. Josslyn’s snarky voice is engaging and funny, and the story effectively shows her character growth from mostly self-absorbed to someone who makes hard choices after learning unthinkable truths. The witty banter and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Josslyn and Jericho are undeniably charming. Most characters are White.

Magic, romance, and politics combine in an oh-so-fun, fast-paced fantasy.