Gr 9 Up— Kaufman is a master worldbuilder and has created a new series where the sea plays almost as important a role as her characters do. This thrilling fantasy includes adventure, magic, violence, friendship, and a small dose of romance. Selly is happiest sailing on one of her father's merchant ships, but longs to do more than the grunt work her captain keeps giving her. On the night she decides to stow away on a ship traveling north where her father is spending the winter, she is kept aboard the Lizabetta in order to help with a clandestine journey. The crew has been tasked with getting Leander, the Prince of Alinor, to the Isle of the Gods so that he can perform a sacrifice to keep Alinor's god happy and prevent a world war. Laskia, of Mellacea, is tired of being taken advantage of by her sister and decides to hunt down Leander and kill him so that the countries can go to war, a war that would hopefully raise Laskia's status. Luckily for Leander, Selly and the Scholar are willing to risk their lives to help him reach the Isle. The story is told from the points of view of several characters, and the action takes place on the water and in several ports along the coast of the Crescent Sea. In this society women have many leadership roles in politics, religion, and business, and all skin colors have equal status. VERDICT Readers who love a good fantasy with lots of action, especially the the "Grishaverse" books by Leigh Bardugo, will be happy to devour this new series and will anxiously await the next volume.— Elizabeth Kahn

Prince Leander of Alinor is late making a sacrifice to the gods that has the power to stop a war. It's because he was partying, or so everyone assumes. That's certainly what Selly sailor on the cruise the prince has crashed inks happened. But as she gets to know the handsome stranger, along with a scholar who was definitely not the prince's friend back in school, she learns two things: the prince has hidden depths, and his mission is more dangerous than anyone knows. After an incident leaves the trio without a ship, they begin a perilous journey to the Isles of the Gods so that Leander can make his sacrifice, before a rival god awakens and triggers a war. Although the book is somewhat slow to start and keeping track of the five point-of-view characters can be confusing at times, the high-stakes quest and romance at the heart of the story make up for it. Kaufman's YA fantasy has sweeping adventure, sleeping gods, magic, and heartwarming love and friendship winner. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With Jay Kristoff, Kaufman has penned multiple blockbuster series (the Illuminae Files; the Aurora Cycle). Kaufman's solo series starter should lure the same crowd.

When gods go to war, the world lies barren in their wake.Selly is a saltblood, with a storm in her heart and secrets to hide; Leander is a prince, more powerful than he cares to acknowledge and desperate to run from his duties, no matter the cost. Keegan is a scholar who would rather study history than be part of it. Jude is a boxer, swinging futilely at a cruel world; Laskia feels wronged by life and will go to any lengths to get what she feels she deserves. In the background of their lives, sibling gods lurk as threats, one bound in sleep, the other a patient, distant sentinel. When war brews between nations, the gods hold the fate of the world in their hands. Kaufman's worldbuilding is richly detailed, immersing readers in the twists and turns of a well-paced plot. Her characters are not heroes but ordinary people battling extraordinary circumstances: tired, bruised, dirty, and sympathetic. The emotional impact of each setback and triumph is elevated by the care shown for the ordinary people caught on opposite sides. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager to spend more time in this world. This fantasy features characters who are diverse in physical appearance; race holds no significance. There is also LGBTQ+ representation.A thrilling series opener. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18)

In this electrifying high-seas series launch from Kaufman (the Aurora Cycle), teenage Selly is eager for her fleet-owning father to return to port so she can end her apprenticeship sailing under Captain Rensa and become her dad’s first mate. When business delays him, the impatient teen schemes to hop a vessel headed his way, until Rensa’s ship unexpectedly sets sail, commandeered by the Kingdom of Alinor’s magically gifted Prince Leander. Citizens believe that Leander is off cementing allegiances with Alinor’s neighbors in case enemy nation Mellacea declares war; in truth, Leander plans to find the hidden Isles of the Gods to make a sacrifice meant to keep Mellacea at bay. He’s also on the run from Laskia, a ruthless pro-war Mellacean who—prior to Leander’s acquisition of Rensa’s vessel—tried to assassinate him by sinking his schooner. Selly, Leander, Laskia, and two other teens narrate this high-stakes game of cat and mouse; their illuminating first-person tellings skillfully interlock to maximize tension and forward momentum. Kaufman’s organically incorporated, intricate mythology never detracts from the action-packed plot or the complex relationships developing between the variously diverse characters. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (May)