Zahru is a whisperer, which means she can talk to and understand animals. Hers is considered a lowly form of magic. She longs to escape her small town, explore the Kingdom of Orkena, and have some excitement and chocolate along the way. Her best friend devises a plan to fake her way onto a boat destined for the palace and crash a royal party.
The King has announced that the Crossing will occur for the first time in 400 years - a treacherous race across the desert with a human sacrifice at the end - to determine which of the three heirs will rule Orkena. All does not go according to plan for Zahru; mistakes and misunderstandings occur which lead her to becoming the designated human sacrifice.
She meets all three siblings over the course of the crossing and tries to see the best in each one. She uses her wits, her magic and her kindness to survive.
The characters are the strength of this story. They are complex and have motives that aren't always immediately apparent. The magic system is interesting and original. A person's magic or lack of it dictates their place in the social hierarchy. The world building is well done and the pace never lets up. Just as Zahru escapes one sticky situation, she is thrown into another. This is the kind of fantasy novel that keeps you turning the pages. It is full of surprises and the adventure never stops. Bring on the next book!
The King has announced that the Crossing will occur for the first time in 400 years - a treacherous race across the desert with a human sacrifice at the end - to determine which of the three heirs will rule Orkena. All does not go according to plan for Zahru; mistakes and misunderstandings occur which lead her to becoming the designated human sacrifice.
She meets all three siblings over the course of the crossing and tries to see the best in each one. She uses her wits, her magic and her kindness to survive.
The characters are the strength of this story. They are complex and have motives that aren't always immediately apparent. The magic system is interesting and original. A person's magic or lack of it dictates their place in the social hierarchy. The world building is well done and the pace never lets up. Just as Zahru escapes one sticky situation, she is thrown into another. This is the kind of fantasy novel that keeps you turning the pages. It is full of surprises and the adventure never stops. Bring on the next book!