An Adventure of a Lifetime

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Zahru knew that as a Whisperer she would take over her father's work in the town stable and stay in her village. Her ability to talk to animals was not considered special in Orkena, a country where magical abilities were common and typically more powerful than Zahru's. No big travels or adventures were in her future, no matter what she dreamed. Knowing her future, it seemed reasonable to want to go to the palace with her best friend, Hen, to experience a once in a life time event. The three royal heirs were going to pick their teams, composed of a First and a Healer, for the Crossing (a deadly race across the country between siblings to determine the next ruler). Hen and Zahru did have to skirt a couple of rules to get Zahru onto the boat to the palace for the festivities. Unfortunately they didn't realize that Zahru would be considered a contender for the First positions. Or that she would be selected. And then be designated the eventual human sacrifice....

This was a really fun book to read! Zahru was an excellent narrator of her adventure. She would occasionally couch events going on as if they were part of an actual adventure story (of course there will be a rescue, right?) and that helped her keep perspective, even when it didn't always go as expected. The race across the country with the three siblings and their teams was engaging and packed with excitement. I don't want to add any spoilers, so I will stop there.

If you like YA fantasy novels, definitely add this to your list. There is magic, a race, sibling rivalry, a hint of romance, friendships, and uncertainty over the future of Orkena. I look forward to the next book in this series!