Onyx & Ivory

Gr 9 Up—In this expansive fantasy world of dragons, magic, and mystery, no one can be trusted. This is especially true for Kate, an outcast paying for her father's sin—a failed assassination attempt of a high king. Now she lives on the dangerous margins of society as a courier riding around the kingdom attempting to survive in a world filled with flightless dragons called nightdrakes. Kate has one advantage—the magical power to control the minds of animals. Her strange world is turned even more so when she falls in love with Corwin, the king's son. As nightdrakes become an increasing threat, the kingdom is thrown into turmoil and Kate and Corwin are caught in the middle. Arnett invites readers into a complex world with its own vocabulary. The chapters alternate between the stories of Kate and Corwin. These dual perspectives offer teens a depth of understanding of each of these characters' inner lives. The author has a knack for writing for young adults and molding real-life situations into this engaging story of magic and young love.