by Steven Brust
First published 2020
In the grand port city of Liavek, every resident receives a yearly dose of luck on their birthday. Most people cannot harness this power, but wizards have learned to manipulate it for personal gain. Kaloo, a young orphan, feels she could master and develop her luck, but faces one critical problem: she doesn't know when she was born. Without her birth date, she cannot access her magical potential. Desperate for answers about her origins, Kaloo seeks help from a mage to uncover the truth about her past. Her search launches her into a dangerous quest that will test her resolve and courage. As she ventures down perilous paths, Kaloo discovers that some secrets carry unexpected consequences. Her journey becomes more than just finding a date on a calendar. It becomes a test of her determination to claim the power that might be rightfully hers, even when the mysteries she uncovers threaten to overwhelm her.
Genres: adventure, coming-of-age, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, quest, secrets
Setting: Liavek
280 pages · Paperback · ACTUSF