The Bookweaver’s Daughter

Kannan’s debut, written when the author was 17, features 15-year-old Reya Kandhari, descendant of a long line of Bookweavers: mages able to transform reality using words. Their ancestors, the first Yogis, created the ancient India-inspired kingdom of Kasmira. Though Reya’s father currently holds the status of Bookweaver, the tyrannical King Jahan’s opposition to such powerful magic places their family in danger. Together with her best friend, Nina, Reya is forced to disguise herself as a peasant, doing backbreaking manual labor in the Fields. After Jahan murders Reya’s father, though, Reya becomes the next Bookweaver, developing powers that make her both the king’s newest target and a figure of hope for the resistance Renegades. Now, she must decide how to use words to shape her own contested freedom. The novel’s rushed pacing doesn’t allow for full character development, but the rich mythology, inspired by Indian culture, complements vivid worldbuilding, and Reya’s relationship with Nina showcases a strong female friendship that propels the plot forward. Ages 12–up. [em](Sept.) [/em]