Heart of Thorns

Gr 9 Up—In Mia's world, only women have magic, and all women are feared because inside any one of them could live a Gwyrach: a half-woman, half-god monster that can kill with a single touch. Since her mother's death, Mia has been training as a Hunter to find the Gwyrach that killed her mother and exact revenge; but to save her sister from a loveless marriage, Mia agrees to marry the cold Prince Quin at her father's behest. On the eve of her wedding, she plans to escape the palace, but her plans go awry when she discovers, to her horror, that she has magic. Now, Mia must evade the very Hunters that she worked so hard to join and learn the truth about herself. If she wants to survive, she has to master the magic she so despises, and that means learning to trust her heart. Barton weaves a girl-powered tale of love, family, and self-acceptance, and readers who appreciate fast paced, high-stakes fantasy such as Traci Chee's The Reader or Elly Blake's Frostblood, will be ensnared by Mia's adventures. Those looking for rich world-building will also find much to love. As the story twists and turns, traditional fantasy tropes, such as the political marriage, are upended. Teens will be clamoring for a sequel, if only to spend a little more time with the characters in this world.