Two hundred years after the wraith wars, Parson Rainier Worthington, an infamous member of the Order of Guardians, awakens from his scarecrow form to help an 18-year-old girl save the kingdom from darkness.Lady Charlotte Sand was never supposed to be the partner of a Guardian, one of the soldiers who protect against wraiths. As the daughter of the legendary Jonas Sand, her role was clear: to use her gifts to settle spirits back into their bones. But then her brother is killed by soldiers of the Cardinal's Watch, and in direct defiance of the cardinal's exile, Worth wakes for Charlotte. Together, Worth and Charlotte travel to the capital, hoping they can save the other Guardians' hearts from capture, all the while trying to protect themselves from Luc de Montaigne, the Cardinal's Watch captain who's in charge of stopping them. Luc seeks Charlotte for treason against the cardinal of the Silent Gods, a woman Luc serves unquestioningly. Yet, whenever they meet, Luc's soul reaches for Charlotte's, and he finds himself granting her leniency and failing in his duty. The pacing in Rodgers' debut is fast, although Charlotte and Luc repeatedly struggle with the obstacles of impulsive behavior, guilt, and fear. The supporting characters are quippy and fun and contain believable flaws. The combination of political intrigue, religious zealotry, and slow-burn romance will leave readers' hearts broken. The cast members are diverse in skin tone.A duology opener featuring a cleverly built world populated by appealing characters. (Fantasy. 13-18)

Gr 8 Up— Lady Charlotte Sand has a special gift to quiet restless spirits. However, the peace is disrupted by religious tension and Captain Luc de Montaigne who is determined to steal the hearts of the Order of the Guardians, a group of scarecrows, who have been quiet since a change in the ancestral chain. Lady Charlotte proves to be protective and starts a faction war against the captain only to have to deny her fondness for him. Both characters are determined and selfish with their beliefs, but readers will see growth. Charlotte's army of dead spirits becomes restless and fights against the cause while she and the captain fall deeper in love. This original, dark fantasy will appeal to readers as the scarecrows and stealing of hearts is a refreshing idea. Even though the novel could use a bit more background, it combines politics and religion with an intriguing world where the dead are restless and a revival of an old Order leads to disruption. The lyrical writing will help readers understand the fun, supporting characters and their beliefs. As the characters mature, they soften in their approach and ease up on self-righteousness. Characters vary in skin color. VERDICT Fans of dark fantasy with memorable characters and worldbuilding will look forward to the sequel of this debut duology. Recommended.— Karen Alexander