The Shadowglass

Gr 7 Up—In this series conclusion, Tea must make decisions and sacrifices that will impact the fate of everyone in the Eight Kingdoms. Questions of good, evil, right, and wrong loom large as she begins to question everyone around her—and even her own sanity. Head-over-heels romance, terrifying curses, political intrigue, and epic magical battles will appeal to fantasy enthusiasts. Like the first two books, this one is a strong example of non-European-centric fantasy. Influences from all over Asia combine with strong world-building and lush descriptions to transport readers from icebound mountains to barren deserts and back again. There are elements of legends and epics throughout, but ultimately the story focuses on love in all its beautiful and messy forms. Complex characters with human flaws rise to the occasion or fall victim to their baser instincts in unexpected but ultimately relatable ways, and teens will find the tension between characters' intentions and actions particularly compelling.