The River She Became (The River She Became #1)

Young rebels find love while fighting to save their respective kingdoms in this enchanting romantasy duology opener from Varga (For She Is Wrath). Astolans depend on the life magic that emanates from buried fae relics to keep their soil fertile, so when invading Angrezian soldiers start hunting down and sending off those relics to their greedy empress, Astola’s crops fail and famine spreads. Yaseema—an Astolan who can use magic to locate objects—believes that if not for the enchanted wall separating Astola from the fae realm, Peristan, life magic would flow freely into the kingdom. Beating Angrezian soldiers to a relic that grants passage to Peristan, Yaseema travels to the fae world seeking Queen Azari’s crown, an item powerful enough to destroy the wall. She’s not the only one looking, though; Kiyan, deposed prince of the River Court fae, hopes the crown’s magic can help him end the tyrannical occupation of his people’s land by the Salt Court fae. Tension mounts across Yaseema and Kiyan’s alternating narration, along which mutual trust and affection develop despite the high-stakes nature of their competition. Varga’s nuanced, intersectionally diverse characters illustrate the power of empathy, resistance, and sacrifice while entertaining readers with witty banter and feats of derring-do as they navigate an intricate, Pakistani mythology–inspired world. Ages 13–up. Agent: Paige Terlip, Andrea Brown Literary. (June)