Freed by Flame and Storm

Gr 9 Up—In Bound by Blood and Sand, Jae unlocked the magic of her people, freed herself from an ancient curse, and set out on a journey to recover the ancient Well that her people helped create which was the source of all water on her planet. In this follow-up story, Jae is setting out to free her people from the same curse that she escaped in the previous volume. She travels to the capital cities with her companion Elan, who was disavowed by his own father after learning the truth that Jae's people, not his own, were responsible for crafting the Well. They are joined by a faction of free folk called the Order, who wish to see magic brought back to the world, and the ruling caste eliminated. After Jae succeeds in lifting the curse, several violent and bloody battles ensue. This story continues with an unflinchingly honest discussion of slavery and rape. The storytelling can be a little uneven; Allen writes some characters acting in ways counter to their personality in order to move the story along, then has them revert to their initial behavior. Despite the violence, there is a happy ending.