In Tan's thrilling debut, an homage to Xianxia novels, 16-year-old orphan Ahn has nothing but a murky past and a secret: she is a magic-wielding Tiensai, a hunted people whose powers are said to be the cause of the land's transition into desert. The rightful heir to the corrupt Shi empire, 18-year-old Altan was betrayed by the royal family and left for dead; now, he seeks the Life Stealer to further his agenda. When fate brings the two together, they discover that Ahn's magic is the key to their desires: Ahn, to unravel her past, and Altan, to get revenge. As they journey to seek a legendary sword in the hopes of expelling the dark magic that has corrupted the land, the two earn each other's trust, which slowly becomes something more. Effective worldbuilding and vivid imagery suck the reader in to Tan's high-fantasy, Chinese folklore--inspired world written from two perspectives. A strong cast of supporting characters--including a closeted emperor, a mysterious priest, and a queer spy couple--rounds out a book rooted in themes of power and imperialism. A glossary details places, cultural terminologies, and more. Ages 13--up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary. (Oct.)

Tan's richly imagined, magical debut will leave readers breathless as they follow the story of 16-year-old Ahn, who lives with her honorary grandma, Ama, in a tiny village getting wiped out by the encroaching desert. She goes about her days stealing food and trying to live with the fact that she remembers nothing of her life before age six, when rescued by Ama. But Ahn has a deep secret: she is a Tiensai, someone with strong spiritual and magic powers, and these individuals are hunted by obsessive and dangerous Diyeh priests. As the story progresses, full of action and intrigue, she deals with the threat of war and meets 18-year-old Altan, who is desperately searching for a Life Stealer so peace can be brought back to the empire--at any cost. Readers will be transported by Tan's fantasy, which draws upon Chinese mythology and xianxia and wuxia genres, making for an exciting blend of imagination and action. Tan shows definite promise in the world of high fantasy.

Two teens discover their intertwined destinies as war returns to the land. Sixteen-year-old Ahn lives with her grandmother in a small village that's disappearing into the ever expanding desert. She can't remember much of her past, before she was found alone in town as a child of 6 and adopted by her Ama; all she can do is focus on their survival by pilfering food--and keeping her secret hidden. Ahn is a Tiensai, those possessing strong spiritual powers who can use magic and are hunted mercilessly by cruel, fanatical Diyeh priests. As the Shi Empire goes into mourning for the deceased emperor and the threat of another war looms, Ahn discovers a dark side to her magic. She also meets enigmatic, 18-year-old Altan, the rightful heir, who is seeking the mythical Life Stealer in order to bring back peace and prosperity. The worldbuilding is rich and layered, mixing Chinese culture and mythology with martial arts and fantastical magic. The depiction of the impact of war, as shown by the Shi Empire's colonialism, power imbalances with neighboring civilizations, and effect on families and communities, is nuanced and balanced with discussions of strong leadership, national pride, and service. The smoldering romance takes place against the backdrop of themes of duality and complementarity in nature, trauma and revenge, self-sacrifice, truth in history, and the fight for a better future. A magic-filled debut that will leave readers eager for more from this author. (glossary, notes about the fantasy world) (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.