Poison, pigs, and princesses combine in this fun fantasy adventure. Sixteen-year-old Kyra is a potions master. When she learns the future of her kingdom includes destruction and despair, she knows what she must do: assassinate the princess, who also happens to be her best friend. For the first time in her life, Kyra's poison dart misses its target, and now she is on the run. In her attempt to save the kingdom, she encounters goblins, witches, a magical tracking pig, and one very infuriating (and very cute) adventurer named Fred, who somehow keeps appearing on Kyra's trail. Does Kyra have the heart to follow out her mission? And what will happen to the kingdom if she doesn't? This is a frothy fantasy confection filled with quick-witted dialogue, cliff-hanger chapter endings, and plenty of plot twists to keep readers guessing. With a strong and independent main character, a dash of romance, and plenty of magic and potions, readers tiring of damsel-in-distress stories are sure to applaud Kyra and her madcap adventures.

Living in the world of witches, dwarves, potion masters, shape shifters, and the like, Kyra is reluctant to trust anyone, even her best friend and the future queen, Ariana. Dramatic cliffhanger chapter endings, quick getaways, disguises, tricked-out witches, a princess-seeking pig, and one especially clever and handsome boy make this a fine rollicking adventure from start to finish.

Don't let the title or cover fool you! No grimdark teen fantasy or angst-y heroines here; just a frothy confection of a fairy tale featuring poisoners, princesses, perfumers and pigs, none of whom are exactly what they appear (except maybe the pigs). Sixteen-year-old Master Potioner Kyra is on the run from the army, the royal family, organized crime and her business partners (including her ex-fiance)--all because she tried to kill her best friend Princess Ariana. But Kyra's newly awakened (if unwanted) prophetic visions have revealed that if the princess lives, the kingdom dies. Against this dreadful future Kyra pits her impressive martial training, her formidable skill with poisons, an infallible (and adorable) tracking pig, and the equally adorable (if infuriating) Fred, rogue and companion-of-the-road. Can Kyra survive long enough to execute Ariana? And can she live with herself if she succeeds? Ignore the ridiculously contrived plot and shaky worldbuilding; the sheer bravura charm of Kyra's voice will sweep away any reservations. More troublesome are a weakness for telling over showing and the distressing tendency to equate moral virtue with physical beauty. Still, this is good silly fun--a refreshing antidote to a genre overflowing with grit and gloom. (Fantasy. 11-14)

Kyra, a 16-year-old Master Potioner (specialty: poisonous weaponry) is on a mission to kill her best friend, Princess Ariana. Sounds grim, except this assassin has a piglet guide (dubbed Rosie) and occasionally wears frilly underwear that gets exposed at the most inopportune moments-like when the handsome and blithe wanderer Fred shows up. Kyra may wear black and stash all manner of weapons about her person, but she doesn-t really want to hurt anyone (indeed, many of the potions she uses are meant to induce sleeping or confusion). She wouldn-t think of it if it weren-t for her frightening visions of the destruction of the kingdom, all of which seem to hinge on Ariana. Or do they? The late Zinn-s debut novel unfolds as a romping, fairy-tale quest with more than one twist up its sleeve. The story is vivid, headlong, and occasionally tongue in cheek, and the narrative-s dark moments never get too scary because everything else is so much fun. Ages 12-18. Agent: Michael Stearns, Upstart Crow Literary. (Mar.)

Gr 6-9 Sixteen-year-old Kyra is on the run. She may be one of the Kingdom of Mohr's most highly skilled potions masters, but she has also just tried-and failed-to poison Princess Ariana. And Kyra is determined to finish her mission even if it means killing her best friend. There's no room for companions or pets on this desperate quest, so how is it that she's wound up with an adorable pig and an adventurer who's too charming for his own good? In order to save her kingdom from a nefarious plot, Kyra will have to come to terms with all the gifts she possesses (including the strange visions that spur her actions on) and reveal a dangerous plot before it destroys everything she loves. Filled with unexpected twists, this frothy fantasy adventure offers readers a story with plenty of action, engaging humor, and a dollop of romance. While readers looking for complex, multilayered plots may find the characterization and world-building on the thin side, many young teen and tween fantasy fans are likely to snap up this quick read with a feisty heroine. Stephanie Whelan, New York Public Library