An elf with forbidden magic has spent her life hiding from a kingdom that hunts both. Sasha E. Sloan's debut sends her into its palace after she saves the crown prince.
Readical Key Points
Young adult romantic fantasy; debut novel by Sasha E. Sloan
An instant New York Times bestseller and an Amazon Best of 2026 pick, according to the publisher; starred review from Publishers Weekly
Publisher age guidance: 14 and up. Includes monster attacks, persecution and danger
Hardcover, 368 pages, Disney Hyperion, 2026
Lyria has spent her life on the run with her mother from Verdinae, a human kingdom that means to wipe out elves and magic alike. When she uses her magic to save a boy from a monster in the forest, he turns out to be the heir to the throne, and she is offered a post at court as royal apothecary. There she keeps her identity secret among ruthless nobles, clashes with Cygnus, the palace's guarded healer, and finds that something dangerous lies beneath the palace.
Readers of court intrigue, hidden-identity fantasy and romance with more than one pull will find the elements here, and older teens and adult readers of young adult fantasy alike. Lyria's problem is not only staying hidden. It is deciding who to trust once she can no longer hide.
About the Author
Sasha E. Sloan, a BookTok creator, lives in New York City. This is her first novel.
Condition: Brand New and Readical Ready.
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