
This young adult fantasy novel plunges readers into a world inspired by ancient Greek mythology, following Deina, a Soul Severer bound to Hades. When a tyrant offers fortune and freedom to whoever can retrieve his dead wife from the Underworld, Deina seizes the opportunity. The story explores themes of independence, loyalty, and the moral complexities of alliances as Deina embarks on a perilous quest. Parents should note the book features a strong female protagonist, intricate world-building, and suspenseful adventure, making it suitable for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers who enjoy rich fantasy and mythological retellings.
Join a thrilling journey into the Underworld, with all its jealousy, betrayal, and deception, in this first part of an original fantasy duology inspired by ancient Greek myth. Deina is trapped. As one of the Soul Severers serving the god Hades on earth, her future is tied to the task of shepherding the dying from the mortal world--unless she can earn or steal enough to buy her way out. So when the tyrant ruler Orpheus offers both fortune and freedom to whoever can retrieve his dead wife, Eurydice, from the Underworld, Deina jumps at the chance. To succeed, however, she must enter an uneasy alliance with a group of fellow Severers that she neither likes nor trusts. As their perilous journey into the realm of Hades begins, with the reward of freedom ahead, what will it take for Deina to reach her prize? From the authors of A Throne of Swans and A Crown of Talons comes a stunning new YA duology set in a world inspired by the mythology of ancient Greece, perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken's Lore and Jessie Burton's Medusa.