Inferno's heir

A fire-wielding princess infiltrates a rebel army to barter her own freedom in Wang's pulpy fantasy debut. Since the death of her father, the king of Erisia, 17-year-old Teia Carthan has lived at the whims of her cruel half brother and heir to the throne Jura, whose first order of business is to sell Teia into marriage. But when Jura places a bounty on teenage Kyra Medoh--a recent recruit of the Dawnbreakers, the rebel army sowing the seeds of democracy throughout the kingdom--he unwittingly presents Teia with the opportunity to win her freedom. Kyra is rumored to be a fire wielder, which makes her a threat to Jura, as only the royal Carthans can harness fire. Thus, he promises to grant one favor to whoever can capture Kyra, a favor that Teia intends to obtain for herself: she will fulfill the bounty and force Jura to break her betrothal. During her quest, Teia integrates herself into the Dawnbreakers and begins questioning the monarchy, as well as her own hand in upholding it. The antagonists read as evil for evil's sake and the protagonists lack depth, making it difficult for readers to become invested in their plight. Suspenseful plotting and adrenaline-inducing action delivered at a steady clip nevertheless coalesce in an exciting adventure. Major characters are racially diverse. Ages 12--17. Agent: Kelly Van Sant, KT Literary. (Oct.)

Amid the approaching coronation of her cruel half brother, Jura, and agitation by pro-democracy rebels called the Dawnbreakers, Princess Teia Carthan of Erisia carves out her own fate. Following her parents' death, Teia learned to fight. In addition to being able to wield fire and water, she's not above resorting to blackmail, bribery, and murder to ensure her survival. Through master thief Enna, she learns that Jura is after the Dawnbreakers' symbolic figurehead: Kyra Medoh, a young woman said to be able to control fire, a skill believed to be passed down through the royal lineage. When Teia intercepts Kyra after the thief infiltrates the Golden Palace, the princess tells her she wants to join the Dawnbreakers. Teia plans to gain Kyra's trust, discover the location of the Dawnbreakers' base, and use this information as leverage with Jura to get out of the betrothal he's arranged for her to an abusive murderer. As Teia works undercover, her camaraderie with and attraction to Dawnbreaker Tobias grows, and, moved by Kyra's idealism, she starts to question her own motivations. Debut author Wang's tightly written narrative deftly unravels surprising twists and intrigues. While several characters in this duology opener appear too eager to spill their deepest secrets, readers will forgive this weakness and anticipate the second volume. Teia's mother came from the country of Shaylan; her skin tone is darker than most Erisians'. Kyra has coppery skin and black hair. A fantastical romp filled with intrigue and suspense.(Fantasy. 13-17) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.