by Traci Chee
First published 2024
The war that once consumed the world has ended, but its scars remain. Kindlings, the elite magical warriors who wielded devastating power at the cost of their youth, now find themselves cast aside. Their magic is forbidden, their skills deemed obsolete, their prized balar weapons reduced to mere collectibles. When a remote village faces siege, seven of these displaced kindlings see a chance to fight once more. But war has transformed them all. Trauma weighs heavy on their minds, and the countryside still bleeds from ongoing violence. These warriors must confront not only external enemies but their own haunted pasts and uncertain futures. To succeed in their mission, the seven must rebuild the bonds that once made them formidable. They struggle to reclaim their former selves while grappling with what the war took from them. Their search for purpose becomes a battle for survival, both physical and emotional. Victory depends on whether they can unite as they once did, or risk losing everything they have left to protect.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, rebuilding-bonds
432 pages · Paperback · Clarion Books
Content warnings: violence, war