Hidden identities, allusions to environmental concerns, a clever heroine with a worthy potential love interest, and some monster-mashing fight scenes elevate this romantic series opener. A cliff-hanger ending will have many readers exclaiming aloud their impatience at having to wait for the sequel. -- Booklist Fans of Katniss and the Sisters of St. Mortain from Robin LaFevers's "His Fair Assassin" series and other strong, vengeful female heroines will root for Wil. -- School Library Journal Meadows delivers a powerful coming-of-age story. -- Publishers Weekly Solid worldbuilding, interesting characters and just enough romance make this an enjoyable read. -- Kirkus Reviews Meadows deftly juggles a multitude of plot points here, managing to link each element to Wil's growth as a character. A cliffhanger ending puts a beloved character's life in peril, ensuring both a sequel and readers' clamoring for it. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books One of the most compelling fantasies I've ever read. Fans of strong heroines, secret identities, and terrifyingly dangerous magic should put Jodi Meadows at the top of their 'to read' lists. -- C.J. Redwine, author of the Defiance trilogy THE ORPHAN QUEEN casts its spell from the first page. Exquisite, captivating and romantic -Jodi Meadows's world forbids magic, but THE ORPHAN QUEEN is brimming with it. I loved this book! -- Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die