The Heart Forger

February 1, 2018
With a thirst for vengeance, a band of terrifying daeva at her command, and her resurrected lover by her side, Tea is ready to face her adversaries in this sequel to The Bone Witch (2017).Continuing the established plot, Prince Kance of Odalia falls unconscious due to a mysterious sleeping sickness; the old Heartforger--who might know of a cure--is nowhere to be found; and broody and loyal Deathseeker Kalen still expresses an aversion to Tea and her infatuation with the charming prince. Meanwhile, the sinister Faceless Aenah tries to persuade Tea--who is struggling to control the Dark's influence over her--to join the even darker side. While necromancy, spellcasting, and political intrigue permeate the narrative as in the previous book, romance (falling in love, surprise engagements, and the sharing of heartsglasses) is the clear catalyst here. Chupeco's time-hop storytelling style, established in Book 1, is still imperfect, as the intense progression of both the past and present plots results in two seemingly divergent stories (and versions of Tea). But from the sweet banter between two lesbian ashas to Fox's hilarious sarcasm (even when his arm is dangling by threads of flesh), readers will find Chupeco's dynamic characters and their interactions with one another refreshing, contributing light and liveliness to a story centered on dark magic and impending war. The world, explicated in the backmatter, is a racially diverse one; Tea and Fox both have brown skin.A sequel that builds in both thrills and enchantment. (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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March 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-The sequel to The Bone Witch takes up where the first book left off as Tea, a bone witch with the power to resurrect the dead, continues her rampage against the ones who exiled her and took the life of her one true love. As an impending, all-out war is brewing among The Eight Kingdoms, more of Tea's past is revealed to readers, while her actions in the present race toward impending doom. Chupeco's follow-up shares many of the same aspects of the first book that continue to make for a dark, engaging fantasy series. Alternating chapters continue to reveal the events of Tea's past that led to her revenge-filled present. This installment takes on a darker tone than the first volume. However, it is still accessible for middle school readers because of its short chapters and fast-paced plot. VERDICT A must-purchase for libraries where the previous entry and other epic fantasies are popular.-Molly Dettmann, Moore Public Library, OK

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Chupeco's beautifully crafted world from The Bone Witch (2017) expands in this sequel, which joins dark asha Tea on her crusade of revenge. With an army of the dead and monsters known as daeva, she wrests control of kingdoms that would oppose her. But this is far more than a power grab. A mysterious sleeping sickness is afflicting royal families, and the cure appears to lie with the old Heart Forger and bringing down the remaining Faceless leaders. As in The Bone Witch, the narrative alternates between Tea's recollections, which she tells the bard, and his own account of her terrifying campaign. Chupeco places the reader in the middle of the action, and they must puzzle through Tea's motivations and the circumstances that brought her therethings that are gradually revealed through her conversations with the bard, and often seem at odds with one another. Tea is a wonderfully complex character who knowingly assumes the mantle of villain, but Chupeco deftly exposes her admirable qualities alongside her flaws. Readers will benefit from starting with the first book, which meticulously lays out Tea's world and her training as a bone witch, but Chupeco incorporates enough of these details in her action-driven sequel that newcomers can still find their footing. Dark and entrancing, with a third volume to come.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)