First published 2008
Sadima conceals her gift for communicating with animals in a realm where magic is forbidden. A fraudulent magician once robbed her family and abandoned her dying mother, leaving villagers vulnerable to such deceptions. When word of Sadima's true abilities reaches Somiss, a nobleman determined to bring magic back, he dispatches his servant Franklin to recruit her. Sadima falls in love with Franklin while finally sharing her secret, but his unbreakable loyalty to the ruthless Somiss ensnares her in their dangerous mission. Generations later, magic has returned but remains exclusive to the rich, controlled by wizards in a hidden academy. Hahp, an unwanted merchant's son, gets forced into this school alongside nine other boys, including Gerrard, a peasant whose presence baffles everyone. The academy follows one brutal rule: only one student will survive to graduate. Though centuries separate their stories, Sadima and Hahp's fates interweave across time in unexpected ways.
Genres: historical-fiction, coming-of-age, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Realm, Academy
Period: Generations
357 pages · Paperback · Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: violence