Princess Asterin is an exceptionally powerful magic wielder, so when she learns of a demon terrorizing her people ter scores of royal guards fail to hunt it down e volunteers to help. Accompanied by her closest friends, Asterin journeys deep into the forest to find the demon while exploring the full scope of her own abilities. After uncovering a treacherous plot that topples Asterin's world, she and her group must devise a plan to take down the real threat, and they'll need more than just their magic to face it. Ma's debut takes readers on a suspenseful ride set in a deftly detailed fantasy world built upon a magic system that revolves around affinity stones, used to access a range of nine elemental forces. While the attempt at an ensemble cast was a bit lackluster, the characters are individually real and relatable as they tell their personal story alongside the bigger plot. The hint of a sequel promises more adventures in this vivid world.

Gr 7 Up--Teenage princess Asterin and her most loyal advisors set out to slay a deadly demon of darkness that is killing inhabitants of the Kingdom of Axaria in this good but overly long fantasy series opener. Citizens have magical abilities that are tied to affinity stones representing nine elements, each hailing from a different kingdom and bloodline. A tenth element, shadow, is the most powerful, but its use is forbidden. Asterin has mastered five elements but acquires even more skill after receiving another stone as a gift from neighboring Queen of Eradore. Orion, Asterin's Royal Guardian; Eadric, the captain of her guard; Luna, Eadric's girlfriend and Asterin's lady-in-waiting; and two new young Elite Guards from the kingdom of Eradore accompany Asterin on her quest. They encounter a wyvern, a pit full of corpses of villagers brutally killed, and other dangerous beasts in their demon hunt. The twisty plot is full of intrigue, and a sweet queer romance unfolds as the plot is told through characters' third-person points of view, but the story's middle section lags. The author originally wrote this novel at age 15 and uses anachronistic language that doesn't exist in this fantasy time period ("my bad"). VERDICT Asterin is a strong and realistically flawed heroine, and the other characters are satisfactorily fleshed out, but the book's pacing is uneven. Recommended only for larger libraries where fantasy is popular.-Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton