All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth #1)

In the island kingdom of Visidia, the royal Montaras are the only ones with the ability to practice gruesome soul magic. Anyone else trying to harness it will corrupt their own soul, waking the beast the first Montara ancestor subdued. Princess Amora Montara, 18, is among the last remaining heirs to the Montara throne. When a ceremony to prove her magical aptitude goes awry, she escapes Arida with the help of Bastian, a pirate; in return, Amora will help him regain his magic from a powerful rising rebel named Kaven, who is set on challenging the magic system imposed by the monarchy. Journeying across the kingdom aboard Bastian’s cursed ship, Amora’s fiancé, Ferrick, a skilled healer, and a mistreated, vicious mermaid named Vataea round out the crew. As Amora bears witness to the plights of her kingdom’s constituents and unveils long-hidden secrets, she must face the truth of her family’s reign. Though a reliance on genre-familiar tropes and a sprawling magic system weaken Grace’s debut, this fast-paced duology opener excels in its careful consideration of the responsibilities that come with power. Ages 15–up. [em]Agent: Hillary Jacobson, ICM Partners. (Feb.) [/em]