| Nepenthe, an orphan, was raised by the palace scholars and at sixteen is now a gifted translator. The young queen of Raine, Tessera, has just assumed the throne when Nepenthe goes with a friend to pick up a book from the mages' Floating School. The mages want the book to be translated. When some illusions frighten her friend away from the school, Nepenthe takes the book. It seems to speak to her heart, so she decides to translate it herself, instead of giving it to one of the senior translators. Slowly she begins to decipher it's strange thorn like alphabet. It begins to tell the true story of the legendary ruler Axis and his mysterious mage, Kane. Translating the book becomes a secret obsession for Nepenthe.
Meanwhile, the ancient mage, Vevay, is disturbed. She is trying to guide the new queen of Raine. She senses trouble, but cannot put a pattern to it. Then she has a vision of the first king of Raine, awakening. Legend says he sleeps until he is needed to defend his realm again. This confirms her fears that trouble is brewing. She is afraid that one of the dukes is plotting to take the throne from Tessera. However the real threat is much more dangerous than an ambitious duke. Little does she realize, Nepenthe is entertwined with the danger that threatens Raine, and the choices she makes will change the course of her world. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - ruler Political power play Yes Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters Setting A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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