The only thing that can stop the darkness from taking over: twelve magic-channeling relics made of Dragon Metals. Gideon trains Jestin to wield the Medal of Sun relic, along with other teenagers, each with a relic of their own, who will all play integral roles in the war against the Great Dark. White’s ambitious mythology involves a menagerie of characters, demons, and relics, enough so that it’s a challenge at times to fight off confusion, but the action is plentiful, and the magical battles spark with cinematic energy and imagination.
White’s epic adventure is sure to please young adult readers who can relate to the teenage protagonists overcoming adversity to serve a common good: “The goal is to build a strong enough network to take down the Three Great Schools, [and] free magic back into the world.” Jestin is a likable character, confident and competent, who works well on a team even when he can’t quite believe the surprising turns, like the alley cat he adopts transforming into a combat-savvy panther. The Babylonian mythology is a pleasant change from genre conventions, and readers will cheer on the uncanny youth in their goal of saving magic from the forces of evil.
Takeaway: YA fantasy fans will enjoy this epic of good and evil’s action-packed and unique Babylonian mythology.
Great for fans of: Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, Claire Legrand’s Furyborn.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
