Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show never tell. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood.
With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick a trade secret, they say. Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. The first book in a new trilogy from Heidi Heilig. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. VERDICT This must-have story with an inclusive cast, high stakes, and an intense cliff-hanger will leave readers clamoring for the next installment.A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. This technique works well to flesh out the novel.
Jetta’s first-person narration is broken up with various ephemera including telegraph transcripts, fliers, songs, and play scenes featuring other characters. Chakrana and Aquitan are inspired by Asian cultures as well as French colonialism, which comes through in cultural touchstones such as food, dress, and language. This start to a new trilogy is fast-paced and gripping while also offering readers a thoughtful commentary on the long-lasting ramifications of war and colonization. There are rumors that the emperor values nothing so much as shadow plays, and Jetta believes that garnering his favor could also give her access to the spring that has cured his madness-something Jetta desperately wants for her own “malheur.” An author’s note explains that Jetta has bipolar disorder-a mental illness she shares with author Heilig. Instead, she uses her blood to bind recently deceased souls into her puppets-one of the old ways that is now forbidden. Jetta’s puppets move without string or stick. With luck and determination, Jetta hopes that she and her parents can parlay their fame as shadow players in Chakrana into passage to Aquitan to perform for the Mad Emperor. VERDICT This must-have story with an inclusive cast, high stakes, and an intense cliff-hanger will leave readers clamoring for the next installment.–Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library, School Library Journal
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