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Summary
Summary
With powerful magic that manipulates the natural world, dangerously cunning royalty, and heart-stopping romance, this new sweeping fantasy series is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir.
"Another fantasy romance in the vein of books by Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh. . . . Shalia matures from a frightened girl in a foreign land to a woman unwilling to allow her destiny or desires to be controlled by the men around her." - School Library Journal
"I will be thinking about Shalia's strength and fearlessness (and swooning over the slow-burn romance) as I anxiously await book two!" - Erin Bowman, author of Vengeance Road
Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for an end to the violence that has claimed so many of their loved ones. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bone Lands, a country where magic is outlawed and the Elementae--those that can control earth, air, fire and water--are traitors, subject to torture . . . or worse.
Before she is even crowned, Shalia discovers that she can bend the earth to her will. Trapped between her husband's irrational hatred of the Elementae and a dangerous rebellion led by her own brother, Shalia must harness her power and make an impossible choice: save her family, save the Elementae, or save herself.
Author Notes
A. C. Gaughen is the author of Scarlet, Lady Thief and Lion Heart, which comprise the YA trilogy Scarlet.
She has a Master's in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Master's in Education from Harvard University. Gaughen currently serves as the Director of Girls' Leadership for the non-profit Boston GLOW.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-After five years of bloody war and death, 17-year-old desert princess Shaila agrees to marry Calix, King of the Bone Lands, and make peace between their two peoples. Shaila hopes to usher in a new age free of war and pain, but quickly begins to doubt her husband's motives. To make matters worse, Shaila discovers that she has the power of an Elementae, a person capable of controlling the elements. Calix has a mysterious obsession with ridding the land of Elementae, and Shaila's abilities put her and her unborn daughter in grave danger. As Shaila grows dangerously close to Galen, Calix's brother, she learns of Calix's true intent in marrying her and must decide whether she will continue to work for peace, or ally with the Resistance and fight for those she loves. Another fantasy romance in the vein of books by Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh, and Sarah Maas, this volume will have teens clamoring for a sequel. Shaila matures from a frightened girl in a foreign land to a woman unwilling to allow her destiny or desires to be controlled by the men around her, even the well-meaning ones. The slow-burning romance between Shaila and Galen is swoon-worthy but relatively tame, and the relationship between Shaila and her family, especially brother Kairos, adds depth and humanity to her choices. The plot moves without feeling sluggish or rushed, though the final 80 pages pack a punch. VERDICT A must-buy for any teen collection where fantasy romance is popular.-Kelsey Johnson--Kaiser, St. Paul Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a series opener with depth, powerful people called Elementae can control earth, fire, air, and water but are persecuted by an egotistical and cruel king who seeks to eradicate their abilities. Seventeen-year-old Shalia is newly wedded to that king, Calix, in order to forge peace between her desert people and the Bone Lands that Calix rules. As Calix's controlling nature is revealed, Shalia's hopes for a happy marriage evaporate, she realizes that she's an earth Elemanta (something she must keep secret), and she feels undeniable sparks for Calix's brother, Galen. Shalia's first-person narration keeps readers close to her growing horror at her husband's genocidal tendencies and her own determination to do the right thing, even at great risk to herself, in a turbulent world of political and social turmoil. Gaughen (the Scarlet series) delivers an emotionally resonant tale full of magic so powerful it can move the earth; rich writing and worldbuilding will appeal to readers seeking complex characters, palace intrigue, and weighty questions of power and loyalty. Ages 14-up. Agent: Minju Chang, Bookstop Literary. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Gaughen's sophomore series balances a classic fantasy setup with a tale of abusive marriage and female strength in the face of extreme adversity.For years the white-skinned Bone Landers have waged war; they ravaged the magic-wielding islanders and now fight the brown-skinned desert people. The marriage of desert-born Shalia to Calix, the Tri King, is critical for peace, and Shalia is determined to do her duty. But Calix's handsome face hides a cruel spirit; the genocide of the Islanders was his doing, revenge for a perceived failed romance. Shalia tries to heal his anger with patience and understanding even as she manifests the elemental magic Calix has sworn to eradicate and tries to protect her brother, who leads the resistance. Calix is a textbook abuser; he blames others for his cruelty, he tries to control everything about Shalia, and he frequently tells her how much he loves her even as he hurts her. Despite her naivet, Shalia refuses to be victimized, making this both a traditional fantasy (complete with requisite forbidden romance) and a manifesto of female strength. Heavy exposition bogs down the early chapters, but once the narrative takes off Shalia proves herself a worthwhile heroine.The readers who flock to this will find more than they expected, and Shalia's strength will give them something truly worth swooning over. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gaughen (Scarlet, 2012) delivers a tale of staggering magic, cutthroat royalty, and lethal intrigue in this inaugural volume of her Elementae series. Shalia, a daughter of the desert, marries an enemy ruler to bring peace after endless war, though it was he who hunted Elementae into near extinction. Her new home is the Bone Lands, a place where magic is outlawed and Elementae, those who control the elements, are branded as traitors. The day after her wedding, Shalia discovers she harbors elemental magic and can bend the Earth to her will, giving rise to an impossible choice: she can wield her newfound magic to save her family, save the Elementae, or save herself. Although the world building is a little underdeveloped at times and the elemental magic isn't as thoroughly explained as one might hope, Gaughen weaves a compelling feminist fantasy. Shalia is a refreshingly strong heroine with a voice that leaps off the page. Her story will both break readers' hearts and urge them onward, anxious to know how Shalia grapples with her destiny.--Davenport, Enishia Copyright 2017 Booklist
