Incendiary

February 10, 2020
In this duology opener from Córdova (the Brooklyn Brujas series), King Fernando of Puerto Leones conquers neighboring Memoria and its magically gifted people by kidnapping seven-year-old Renata Convida, a Moria memory thief, and using her to extract tactical knowledge from prisoners. Two years later, Moria rebels dubbed the Whispers rescue Ren and train her as one of their own. Now 17, Ren knows many Whispers think her a traitor for the bloodshed she unwittingly facilitated as a child. Consequently, when she accidentally endangers her boyfriend and unit commander, Dez, during his mission to destroy a weapon that could eradicate the remaining Moria, she flees camp without telling anyone and resolves to save Dez herself—even if doing so means returning to the palace where she was a prisoner. This Spanish Inquisition–inspired fantasy beguiles with evocative prose, organic worldbuilding, and an ethnically diverse cast. Córdova does little to establish Dez and Ren’s romance, diminishing the story’s emotional heft, and the mechanics of the characters’ assorted powers feel murky and convenient, but ample intrigue propels the tale to a gripping close. Ages 14–up. Agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell Management.

Narrator Frankie Corzo tells the story of Renata, a girl who steals memories. Renata is part of a magical rebel group working against the kingdom of Puerto Leones, which condemns her magical people. Corzo takes some time to fully engage with Renata's character--perhaps because of the slow opening of the story. But as the plot thickens, her narration weaves a spell. Corzo's flowing voice (especially when pronouncing Spanish-inflected names) is pleasing to the ear and is well suited to Renata's constant introspection. Although Corzo's characters often sound similar, most of the story is told from Renata's point of view, making differentiation unimportant. Those who stay long enough will find that Corzo's smooth delivery draws them into a world lush with magic, memories, and action. E.J.S. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine