Beasts of the Frozen Sun

Gr 7 Up–Lira is the granddaughter of the chief of the Sons of Stone. She is a gods-gifted soul reader, one of the women on the island blessed by the gods with magic, and her gift is the ability to read people’s souls. But Lira is plunged into a feud between the gods, who have no love or compassion for mortals. As her world unravels around her, Lira must decide if loyalty to her clan is enough to bind her to the life she has always known. Reyker is a warrior from Iseneld, the frozen island to the west. Despite the atrocities he has committed in service of the warlord known as “the dragon,” Reyker still longs to be a man of peace and honor. When he meets Lira, she reads his soul and sets out to help him reclaim his path from darkness. Together, the two attempt to face their warring clans and the warring gods, but their growing relationship could be deadly for each of them. This intense, action-packed start to a series offers star-crossed lovers against a brutal backdrop and violent tests of loyalty. Criswell’s world-building is particularly noteworthy, and the mythology and reality of Lira and Reyker’s world are captivating.