Ship of Smoke and Steel

November 15, 2018
The first in a thrilling, action-packed fantasy series that epitomizes the fight for survival.In the slums of the great port city of Kahnzoka, teenage ward boss Isoka is a ruthless money collector. All the money she obtains goes to support the life she has built for her younger sister away from the poverty and violence. Ancient magic has given her the ability to access the power of Melos, the Well of Combat, one of the nine Wells of Sorcery, an ability she should have declared to the Immortals years ago. When her powers are discovered, she is arrested and sent on an impossible mission: steal the ghost ship Soliton and return it to the Empire in one year's time. Unfortunately, no one has ever returned from Soliton, but if she fails, her sister dies. Isoka must not only survive on the ship, but she must also find a way to reach the captain and take control. Wexler's (The Infernal Battalion, 2018 etc.) young adult debut is a gripping, fast-paced fantasy enrapturing readers until the end. Told from Isoka's point of view, readers get deep into the magic, people, and inner workings of the ship. This ever changing world of magic is beautifully constructed with tantalizing details that evoke a variety of cultural influences. The characters are well-developed, and diversity--in ethnicity, ability, and sexuality--is abundant. From gory fights to unexpected romance, this has something for every fantasy lover.An alluring fierceness and charm will leave readers craving more. (map) (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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June 14, 2019

Gr 10 Up-The first in a trilogy, this fantasy chronicles the adventures of Isoka, a ward boss in the lowest slum of Kahnzoka-a fantastic Japanese metropolis. The book opens with Isoka killing everyone inside an illegal gambling house. In this battle, Isoka reveals her greatest gift and her greatest danger-she is mage-born, able to summon magical blades from the Well of Melos (Combat). Isoka uses her gift to kill those who cross her employers. She is driven in her violent ambition to provide for her sister Tori, who lives in luxury and ignorance of Isoka's work. Isoka's brutal but lucrative world collapses when her power is discovered by the Immortals-the emperor's elite magical soldiers. Taken prisoner by the Imperial spymaster, Isoka must board the ghost ship Soliton and steal it for the empire to save her sister's life. Isoka must immediately defend herself, and soon she is fighting for the lives of her hunting pack against vicious creatures as well as other mage-born fighters. As Isoka climbs the ladder of the ship's command structure, she discovers startling secrets at Soliton's heart and transforms from gangster to hero, striving to save her own life and that of everyone close to her. VERDICT This girl power-infused fantasy offers gripping action and an intriguing plot. Graphic depictions of violence and frequent sexual references make this a choice for older teen readers-Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2018
Grades 10-1 Isoka, a ward boss (read: enforcer and debt collector) in Kahnzoka, has come to terms with her life amongst the lower echelons. She'll be an agent of the sixteenth ward for the rest of her life. The higher wards are filled with people who have magical powers, which come from the nine Wells of Sorcery. During a routine debt-collection mission, Isoka finds she has access to the most dangerous well of all: the Well of Combat. She's arrested for lying to the Emperor, and sent to retrieve a deadly ghost ship in return for her life and her sister's. But the mission is deadly?will Isoka stand a chance with new powers she hasn't been trained to use? Veteran writer Wexler, most recently known for his adult fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns and children's adventures The Forbidden Library series, has another engrossing winner on his hands. The title, cover, and content, which is often violent and sometimes racy, will evoke comparisons to Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series. A recommended purchase for older readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)