ZHARA

Sixteen-year-old Zhara has been hiding her magic from the peacekeepers of Zanhei, the magic-fearing kingdom she lives in, only to find that her powers may offer the only way to save the world.

Ever since her father was taken by the Kestrels, the Warlord’s peacekeepers, Jin Zhara has lived to serve her cruel stepmother and help care for her sister, who is blind. When her stepmother tells her that abominations have resurfaced and that the Kestrels have started hunting down magicians, Zhara fears for her safety. She tries to keep a low profile, but an unexpected run-in with a handsome stranger who is hiding a secret identity sets off a chain of events that lead her to join the Guardians of Dawn, an underground society working to protect magicians. Through her connections with this resistance group, Zhara comes to realize the extent of both her magical abilities and the dangers she and the Guardians are up against. Over the course of this book, the diverse and interesting characters grow and learn about themselves, their histories, and their relationships to each other. With strong East Asian influences and themes in the worldbuilding, this magic-filled story will hook readers with its endearing lead; they will finish this volume and beg for the sequel.

An engaging fantasy set in an original magical world.