A girl with no gifts must bargain for the power to fight her own mother’s dark schemes―even if the price is her life.
Crackling with dark magic, unspeakable betrayal, and daring twists you won’t see coming, this explosive YA fantasy debut is a can’t-miss, high-stakes epic perfect for fans of Legendborn, Strange the Dreamer, and Children of Blood and Bone.
“Magnetic and addictive. This book is black girl magic at its finest.”―New York Times bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton
Heir to two lines of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. Yet she fails at bone magic, fails to call upon her ancestors, and fails to live up to her family’s legacy. Under the disapproving eye of her mother, the Kingdom’s most powerful priestess and seer, she fears she may never be good enough.
But when the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, Arrah is desperate enough to turn to a forbidden, dangerous ritual. If she has no magic of her own, she’ll have to buy it―by trading away years of her own life.
Arrah’s borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal, and on its heels, a rising tide of darkness that threatens to consume her and all those she loves. She must race to unravel a twisted and deadly scheme… before the fight costs more than she can afford.
Set in a richly imagined world inspired by whispered tales of voodoo and folk magic, Rena Barron’s captivating debut is the beginning of a thrilling saga about a girl caught between gods, monsters, and the gift and the curse of power.
“Masterful.” ―SLJ (starred review)
- Black Girl Magic: Heir to a line of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah must find her own strength when she is born without a gift—even if it means making a deal with darkness itself.
- Forbidden Ritual: When children begin to vanish, Arrah turns to a dangerous bargain: trading years of her own life for the power to uncover the truth.
- Witchdoctors and Orishas: Explore a realm inspired by West African folklore, where priestesses wield bone magic, ancestors whisper secrets, and the price of power can be your very soul.
- Mother-Daughter Conflict: Arrah’s greatest obstacle may be her own mother, the Kingdom’s most powerful priestess, whose dark schemes threaten to destroy everything Arrah holds dear.
Rena Barron grew up in small-town Alabama, where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. After penning her first awful poem in middle school, she graduated to writing short stories and novels by high school. Rena has an affinity for good cheese, wine, and nature. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading or brushing up on her French. Find her online at www.renabarron.com.
