September 16, 2019
Maren has two great loves: her heartmate, Kaia, and the conquered mountain kingdom that both girls call home. So after representatives of the Empire of Zedef abduct Kaia, there’s nothing Maren won’t do to bring her back. The opening pace of this engaging fantasy debut is slow and steady as Maren concocts a scheme to steal one of the emperor’s fighting dragons and use it to storm the stronghold, where Kaia has been taken to be trained as a seer for the Empire. After Maren manages to get herself apprenticed to the head dragon trainer, though, the story whirls into a gripping adventure full of friendship, danger, and sudden reversals of fortune. Maren’s personal mission is caught up with a plot to bring down the Empire itself, and as she struggles stubbornly toward the girl she loves, she learns that the fate of all dragons may rest in her hands. Maren’s maturing ambitions and nuanced perspective deepen this thrilling fantasy adventure. Ages 14–up.
