cover image Royal Bastards

Royal Bastards

Andrew Shvarts. Hyperion, $18.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-4847-6765-8

Sixteen-year-old Tillandra Kent is the bastard daughter of Elric Kent, a high lord; it’s unlikely that Elric will ever legitimize Tilla, but until he disowns her, she enjoys royal privileges. During a banquet honoring princess Lyriana Volaris and her uncle, archmagus Rolan, the princess eschews Lord Kent’s company to dine with Tilla and her fellow bastards, Miles and Zell. Seeking adventure, Lyriana persuades her tablemates to sneak out of the castle. They meet up with Tilla’s half-brother, Jax, and head to the beach, where they witness Rolan’s murder and overhear plans for a coup. The teens are spotted and flee; when morning comes, they learn that the perpetrators have faked Lyriana’s death and framed them for both crimes. With combat looming and a bounty on their heads, the group ventures forth to warn the king. First in a planned series, Shvarts’s action-packed debut champions diversity, counsels perseverance, and highlights the human cost of war. The pace is zippy, Shvarts’s mythology is rich, and while the overall tone skews breezy, the conclusion packs thrills and a serious emotional wallop. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (May)