In the Queendom of Myre, sisters fight to the death to be named true Rival Heir and sit on the Ivory Throne. Gifted with the most fearsome magick of marrow and blood, Princess Evalina enlists a godling to help harness her rare powers to have a fighting chance against her sister Isadore's more practiced magick of light and persuasion. But even before her nameday approaches, when she will be of age to engage in combat for the throne, Eva's life is threatened by another who wants to see her dead. All the while, secrets surfacing around her are leaving few to trust. For Eva, the only way to survive is to embrace the killing magick she has so long feared, so she can use it against her own sister. Joy's debut has all the trappings of a riveting fantasy novel: enviable world building, elements of magic, and scintillating glimpses of a powerful backstory, not to mention a slow-burning romance sure to get readers swooning. Joy's fluid dialogue and command of building suspense with precise pacing are undeniable, and her descriptions border on lyrical: ""I slashed at his sword arm, but he dodged with sinuous fluidity."" Gripping political intrigue and cinematic action in a dynamic North African setting make this a natural pick for fans of Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone (2018), who eagerly anticipate the planned sequel.--Mahjabeen Syed Copyright 2010 Booklist

Princess Evalina Killeen attempts to tap into her magical abilities in preparation for a magical showdown.Eva has always known she was born with the feared magick of marrow and blood which she is supposed to use in a fight to the death with her sister, Isa, for the queendom once they both come of age. But Eva's only accessed her magic twice, and both times its violence frightened her. Mere months before her nameday, Eva is desperately searching for a magick teacher when she stumbles across Baccha, a fey of immense power who shares her magical abilities. Though Eva is often empathetic, she's sometimes whiny, and her lack of awareness and acknowledgement of her own privilegeand complete obliviousness toward other people's needsmay irritate readers. However, as she learns to access her magic and begins uncovering family secrets, she also continues to grapple with the current and historical bias (species, not color, based) of Myre, whose diverse population is made up of humans, fey, bloodkin, and khimaer. Her willingness to question the status quo may help readers forgive her for being otherwise self-centered and sometimes rash. A surprising twist and multiple unsolved mysteries will leave readers looking forward to the next book. Black-haired Eva is biracial (her father is brown-skinned while her mother has light pink skin) while Isa has golden hair and lighter brown skin. Supporting characters are racially diverse.A compelling debut. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 8 Up--The Queendom of Myre is steeped in a tradition of blood. Every generation, a pair of rival heirs must battle to the death for the Ivory Throne. Sixteen-year-old Eva has lived most of her life with her father away from Myre, and in pursuit of a teacher who can help her master her magick of marrow and blood--a magick that has not been seen for generations since Queen Raina destroyed the royal line of the native khimaer and killed her own sister, beginning the tradition of Rival Heirs. When Eva is attacked by an assassin weeks before her battle with her sister, Isa, she realizes that the time has come for action. Outmatched and untrained, Eva turns to an ancient fey instructor, a secret prince, and a small group of faithful friends for guidance and aid in this fast-paced magical adventure. Will she have what it takes to defend herself against her sister and the dark forces conspiring against her? Filled with mythical creatures, ancient traditions, sibling rivalries, political intrigue, and epic world-building, this book stands out as a masterful adventure. VERDICT Hand it to fans of Kendare Blake's "Three Dark Crowns" series or those looking for a more diverse response to Game of Thrones.--India Winslow, Cary Memorial Library, Lexington, MA

Evalina Grace Killeen is the younger princess of the Queendom of Myre, a land populated by humans, fey, bloodkin, and the subjugated khimaer, formerly Myre's ruling class. Since her magick was declared "marrow and blood," like that of the most powerful, ruthless human queen in Myre's history, Eva has been the subject of fear and isolation by courtiers, citizens, and her queen mother, who has long favored the persuasive magick of the elder princess, Isadore. When Eva reaches her 17th year, the magick-wielding sisters will fight for the sitting monarch's throne, battling to the death for the right to rule. Biracial Eva, who can seem reactive, regards her own magick as a curse and loathes the thought of fratricide, but after she is attacked repeatedly before the battle, she must unlock the secrets of magic and heritage that have haunted her family and her Queendom for years. Debut author Joy's engrossing, North African--inspired series opener draws effectively on real-world prejudices to inform her richly created universe's complex history of species-based oppression and imperialism. Ages 12--up. Agent: Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Oct.)