We Are the Fire
Swoon Reads/Macmillan
Out Now!
As electrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sam Taylor's explosive fantasy debut We Are the Fire is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and the legend of Spartacus.
In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure, and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Oksana and Pran—both taken from their homeland at a young age—only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place.
Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both.
When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Oksana and Pran vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves.
Content Warnings for We Are the Fire
We Are the Fire
Swoon Reads/Macmillan
Out Now!
Madsi the True
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, Out Now!
In this fantasy adventure set in 1700s Norway perfect for fans of Netflix’s Hilda and Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase series, a girl and her unlikely companions brave the wilds and encounter legendary creatures as they seek to rescue her sister from the Northern Lights.
Madsi has always loved the stories that her clever, strong-willed sister, Lisbet, told her late at night in their cabin. Madsi never expected Lisbet to become one of those tales. But last year, her sister disappeared in the night, snatched away by the Northern Lights.
This year when the Lights appear in the sky, Madsi begs them to free her sister—and a girl falls to earth right in front of her. But it’s not Lisbet. This girl’s name is Torin, and she demands that Madsi take her to a witch who can put her back into the Lights, where she went by choice. Madsi doesn’t know what to believe—but if she takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back. They set off, joined by Espen, an annoying (but surprisingly helpful) boy from Madsi’s village.
Madsi has never thought of herself as brave, but as they endure the wilds and face monsters she’s only heard about in tales, she finds unexpected strength. Can she also find the truth of what happened to her sister?
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Praise for Madsi the True
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
"The action-packed plot and cliff-hanger moments make the story compulsively readable... With a strong-willed main character, sisterly bonds, and fantastical elements, this is a great pick for fans of Hilda and Frozen."
Booklist Reviews
"The book brings 18th-century Norway to life, immersing readers in the folkloric setting. Over the course of the journey, each character learns to reframe stories they’ve long believed about themselves, gaining strength and letting go of guilt along the way. The bittersweet ending leaves room for hope. A warmhearted historical adventure embedded in Nordic folklore."
Kirkus Reviews
"Madsi discovers anew the power that words hold . . . as well as the value of thinking critically about who stories demonize and why. . . . Bittersweet elements and loving but difficult family relationships will resonate with readers who know life isn’t a fairy tale."
Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
"A tale that dances with the same beauty and danger, mystery and vivacity as the northern lights that lead Madsi on her adventure. Madsi the True is truly brilliant."
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sunday Times bestsellling author of
The Girl of Ink and Stars
"S. J. Taylor brings Norwegian folklore to life in all its beautiful (and terrifying!) glory. Brimful of magic and the warmth of family bonds, and featuring a charming, stalwart heroine, Madsi the True is sure to delight readers both young and old. Highly recommended."
Heather Fawcett, New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series and The Grace of Wild Things
"A thrilling adventure set in the wilds of Norway, Madsi the True will delight lovers of folklore and fantasy alike."
Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of Alone
"Madsi The True is a magical, mythical, marvel of a tale brimming with adventure, danger, and the beautiful open heart of a true heroine."
Alysa Wishingrad, author of Between Marvels and Monsters
Cover Designer: Debra Sfetsios-Conover
Also Available!
A free activity and discussion guide for teachers, librarians, and book clubs. Click on the image to download.
