Jetta's family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick — a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But ever since the colonizing army conquered their country, the old ways are forbidden, so Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family's way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad Emperor has a spring that cures his ills — and could cure Jetta's, too. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues her.
But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined — and safety will never seem so far away. In the first book in a new trilogy, acclaimed author Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism, blending traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning tale of escape and rebellion.
"[This title features] an action-packed journey that takes readers from a sultry cabaret to a subterranean tunnel, tropical jungle, putrid midden, shining city, and stone prison. Jetta discovers the dark side of her gift, long-held family secrets, and truths about the horrors and lies of war.... A brooding fantasy with a diverse cast, rarely-seen setting, and compelling heroine who struggles with bipolar disorder." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 14 and up |
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Author | Heidi Heilig |
ISBN | 0062380818 |
Publication Date | Sep 25, 2018 |
Publisher | Greenwillow Books |
Language | English |