Indie Next Pick
Paste Magazine’s Best New Fantasy Books of January
A stunning Celtic YA fantasy adventure set in the ancient kingdom of Eire, inspired by the legend of the first true queen of Ireland.
ISBN
9781638930181
Language
English
Page count
416
Edition
Hardcover
Sale date
January 17, 2023
Dimensions
6 x 9
About the Book
In the kingdom of Eire, banshees chill the air, and water-wights lurk in the rivers. But magic is outlawed by the king, and jealously hoarded by his Druid priests.
Neve is the youngest daughter of the king, and Ronan is a Druid’s apprentice-turned-thief, making a living by selling stolen spells. They should be enemies, but their shared hatred of the Druids—and a dark magic that has marked them both—makes them unlikely, if uneasy, allies.
When Eire is threatened by a power struggle, Neve must seize the chance to take her rightful place on her family’s throne, with the help of Ronan and the realm’s most dangerous outcasts. Their journey takes them to the outskirts of Eire where magic still runs free . . . and where an outlaw and a warrior princess might carve out a future with spells and swords.
Reviews
“History and magic intertwine in this fantasy retelling of ancient Celtic mythology…. filled to the brim with sorcery and treason and with a pinch of romance… A lovely story fit for a mythical queen.”
“By blending thrilling adventure with ancient Celtic legend, Livingston (the Valiant series) delivers an elevated tale of magic and strife… a fierce and capable heroine, dynamic supporting characters, an original magic system, and myriad intriguing subplots will prove irresistible to fans of mythology-inspired fantasy.”
“Lesley Livingston spins her own dark magic upon the page in this gorgeously lush tale filled with dangerous shapeshifters, power-hungry Druids, and a rebel princess who will have you howling at the moon alongside a fearsome, feral warband. Livingston’s ability to balance epic battle scenes and crackling adventure with soul-shattering romance is nothing short of legendary.”
“This lyrical tale includes everything from sorcery and treason to a surprisingly deft exploration of the tension and social injustices between the original peoples of the kingdom of Eire and the king which has outlawed all their magic”
Lesley Livingston
Lesley Livingston is the award-winning author of the Wondrous Strange trilogy and the Valiant trilogy. She holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Toronto and was a principal performer in a Shakespearean theater company, specializing in performances for teen audiences, for more than a decade. She resides in Ontario, Canada. Visit her at www.lesleylivingston.com and follow her on Twitter @LesLivingston.
