A careful balance of ice and fire magic has protected the Kupari people for generations through the queen, who reigns until the magic kills her. Upon the queen’s death, the girl in training becomes the new queen when all of the magic enters her. Then the search is on for the next young girl in training, designated by a special mark that appears with the death of the queen. This is Elli’s story. She has been raised by elders for many years and prophesies have foretold she will be the most powerful queen ever. The queen dies abruptly and the elders take Elli to the chamber where the magic is supposed to enter her. Nope. Nothing happens. The elders torture her, hoping the strong emotion and pain will awaken the magic. Nope. When the elders decide to kill her so the cycle of magic can continue with the next little girl, Elli escapes. Badly beaten and near death, she is rescued by a band of refugees. She learns that so much she was told was a lie.
A range of characters populate the book. Some so very good and self-sacrificing while others were lured to the evil dark side, so power hungry. Elli is a character to root for and of course Oskar who battles the ice magic within him and rescuer of Elli. The story is told at a good pace, with enough detail and world building to draw the reader in. This is the first in a planned series and I hope that Oskar’s sister Freya has a larger role in the coming books. It should be quite popular among teens who want a strong heroine and a touch of romance.
eGalley review Publication date 1.5.16
The Fukuharas were living a comfortable, middle class life in a small town near Seattle even though Katsuja and Kinu, who were born in Japan, were denied the opportunity to become American citizens and denied the opportunity to own property in America. It all came to an end when Katsuja died of pleurisy in 1932. As the depression deepened and the family’s funds ran low, Kinu decided the only thing to do was to move the family back to her home in Hiroshima. The children, born in America, growing up as typical American kids, were not happy. Harry, the second oldest son, declared he would go only with the assurance that he could come back if he didn’t like it. Predictably, Harry didn’t like it and returned to America in 1938 when he was 18. During WWII, Harry became an interpreter for the U.S. Army while his three brothers were drafted into the Japanese Army.
Etta comes from a line of time travelers. But she doesn’t know it. She was raised by her somewhat aloof and eccentric mother. Etta is a violin prodigy and on the night of a major debut, during her solo, a disruption occurs and she is dragged through a time portal. She wakes on a ship with Sophia, the girl who dragged her through the portal, and quickly meets Nicholas. She is on a pirate ship in the middle of the American Revolution and is to be delivered to the head of all of the time traveling families. Seems there is an astrolabe, something that can create holes/portals in the fabric of time, that her mother hid. If Etta does not find the astrolabe through the clues her mother has left, then her mother will be killed. But if she does find the astrolabe and turns it over, her life and the lives of so many will most likely be wiped out when history changes.
Lady Margaret Douglas was the daughter of a queen, a granddaughter of a king, the niece of a king (Henry XIII), the mother of a king, the grandmother of a king. She was an important Tudor, a royal Tudor, a woman who was very involved in the politics of the day and shaped history. And yet, I had never heard of Margaret Douglas. Fortunately, Alison Weir has ably corrected that. This wonderful book reveals an intelligent woman who worked so that her children might rise to power, and was not afraid of the risks to herself.
Morgan has been grotesquely disfigured in an accident and has become a recluse, heir to a fortune but never leaving his estate. Cared for by his housekeeper, Engel, his doctor is his only friend and his only link to the outside world. On the day the baby was found his life changed forever. That the baby was left on the steps leading from the kitchen to the garden was deemed a miracle by Engel, for if it had been deposited anywhere else, it probably would have died. As it was, she scooped it up and hugged it to her ample bosom. Morgan held the baby later, stroking her soft hair, thinking perhaps the child might sometime love him. The other children began to appear shortly after that. By the end of the third month there were six or seven of them. The oldest was a boy who walked into the house one day. He had a tag on his wrist with David written on it. He said he was five years old.
A kind family living simply on a small farm decide to foster an 8th grader, Joseph, who has been through so much. He comes from a juvenile correctional facility and needs a fresh start. Jack, 6th grader welcomes Joseph into the family. Jack shows him how to do chores around the farm and take up for Joseph at school. Without even knowing him, many teachers already pegged Joseph as trouble. Except for a few teachers who recognize his talents and encourage him.
YA Lit Ramblings 
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