A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Gr 9 Up–An immersive, West African-inspired debut. Malik arrives in Ziran with his two sisters for the Solstasia festival, yearning for a fresh start. A refugee with a sensitive heart, he will do anything to protect his family. When a deal with a magical entity leads to his youngest sister’s abduction, he knows that there is only one way forward: He has to broker an awful deal to ensure her safe return. In the meantime, Karina is the crown princess of Ziran with a tragic past and a lot to prove. Plagued by chronic migraines, she wants to live her own life outside of the constraints of her position. When her mother is assassinated, she and Malik are thrown into each other’s path; they are both on secret missions to kill the other and salvage what they have lost. A growing mutual attraction complicates their mission, and they learn what is truly worth fighting for. Readers will forgive Brown for occasionally tangled plotting, because the story, characters, and world-building are so skillfully handled.