Incendiary

Gr 9 Up–As a child, Renata was kidnapped and taken to the palace of Andalucia, where she was used by the kingdom to inflict pain and death on thousands of her own people. When she became one of the Whispers, though, she actively worked against the king in an effort to bring justice and freedom to her compatriots, though they mistrusted her motives and considered her a traitor at best and a saboteur at worst. When the commander of her unit, Dez, is captured and taken to the palace to be executed, Renata must decide where her true loyalties lie—with Andalucia or Dez, the boy she has come to love. Córdova has written a saga of treachery, violence, and lust for power that will enthrall some readers. Unfortunately, others may be left cold as this novel is also long, repetitive, convoluted, and difficult to follow. Readers may find themselves skipping ahead in search of more action and plot.