Calor

In this mixed-bag fantasy, Fischer (The Sword in His Hand) enhances her formulaic reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Nightingale” with a fascinating magic system and a captivating dystopian backdrop. Sephone Winter’s ability to manipulate memories makes her the most powerful mem in Caldera, but she’s also a slave. While Sephone’s ability to enter others’ minds has shown her much of the world beyond her home in the disputed territory of Nulla—including some cherished memories of the world before apocalyptic disaster—she longs to see it all firsthand. But when kind and handsome Lord Adamo offers Sephone a chance to escape in exchange for her help searching for an artifact with the power to completely erase his memories of his murdered wife and child, she refuses—until a kidnapping attempt changes her mind. Elements of “The Nightingale” come to the fore as Sephone and Adamo search for the artifact, face down dangers, and fall in love. Unfortunately, this emotional development is rendered particularly stiffly, hitting expected notes with no sense of surprise or spontaneity, and Sephone’s initial refusal of the call to adventure feels contrived, played out only because of Fischer’s determination to follow the standard beats of the hero’s journey. The exciting worldbuilding may be enough to draw readers in, but they should expect bumps along the way. (Dec.)