Silver in the Mist

by Emily Victoria

Overview

"A fast-paced fantasy for fans of complicated families, lush magic, and beautiful friendships." — Linsey Miller, author of Mask of Shadows

Eight years ago, everything changed for Devlin: Her country was attacked. Her father was killed. And her mother became the Whisperer of Aris, the head of the spies, retreating into her position away from everyone… even her daughter.
 
Joining the spy ranks herself, Dev sees her mother only when receiving assignments. She wants more, but she understands the peril their country, Aris, is in. The malevolent magic force of The Mists is swallowing Aris’s edges, their country is vulnerable to another attack from their wealthier neighbor, and the magic casters who protect them from both are burning out.

Dev has known strength and survival her whole life, but with a dangerous new assignment of infiltrating the royal court of their neighbor country Cerena to steal the magic they need, she learns that not all that glitters is weak. And not all stories are true.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780369704566
Publisher:	Inkyard Press
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	46,300
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

Emily Victoria is a Canadian prairie girl who writes young adult science fiction and fantasy. When not wordsmithing, she likes walking her overexcitable dog, drinking far too much tea, and crocheting things she no longer has the space to store. Her librarian degree has allowed her to work at a library and take home far too many books.

Editorial Reviews

10/03/2022

Feuding kingdoms Aris and Cerena must unite to defeat a common evil in this ethereal fantasy by Victoria (This Golden Flame). Aris is partially swallowed by the Mists, a corrupted enchantment inhabited by terrifying creatures, which separates the two countries and has been eroding Aris residents’ innate magic, leaving them weakened and fearing impending attacks from both the creatures and Cerena. Spy Devlin, 16, is sent by Aris’s spymaster—her emotionally distant mother, the Whisperer—to Cerena to kidnap the kingdom’s strongest magic user, Alyse, planning to use her power to build up Aris’s defenses. Undercover, Devlin inserts herself into Alyse’s inner circle, and the two develop an earnest friendship. As Devlin assists Alyse’s research into the Mists, they slowly reveal startling truths, including that Cerena is not as safe from the Mists as it seems. While there is minimal physical character description, Victoria’s worldbuilding is broadly queer inclusive—Devlin’s best friend is nonbinary, gay marriage is normalized, and Devlin reads as asexual. Low-stakes subterfuge leads to a slow-paced plot, but the central friendship—in which timid Alyse and reserved Devlin help each other grow beyond external expectations—makes for an emotionally layered read. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Remarkably grounded in realism while displaying a fantastic and imaginative nature.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"A fast-paced fantasy for fans of complicated families, lush magic, and beautiful friendships." — Linsey Miller, author of Mask of Shadows

"Her well-wrought world of spies and suspicion will intrigue fantasy readers." — Booklist

"...the casual queerness of the world (gender neutral terms such as layde for monarchs and nobility, along with nonbinary characters and queer side couples) is as refreshing as it is subtle." — Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

Praise for This Golden Flame:

"This Golden Flame examines the perils of power and the magic of friendship for a fun-filled adventure. With a delightful cast of characters and an explosive plot, fantasy fans won't want to miss this one!"—Rosiee Thor, author of Tarnished Are The Stars


"With intricate worldbuilding and a delightful cast of characters, Emily Victoria's This Golden Flame was a page-turning adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved getting lost in Karis and Alix's world as they uncovered the dark secrets of their country's past and found strength and purpose in being true to themselves."—Audrey Coulthurst, author of Of Fire and Stars

“A slow-burn fantasy about found family, friendship, and the struggles of finding oneself, This Golden Flame is perfect for fans of classic YA fantasies and automatons with hearts of gold.”—Linsey Miller, author of the Mask of Shadows duology and Belle Révolte

“Victoria creates a world in which questioning history and fighting for the good of all takes center stage… It’s a refreshing adventure…for readers seeking a unique twist in the fantasy genre.”—School Library Journal

“Victoria creates an engaging narrative with enough fantasy and science fiction elements to satisfy fans of both genres… A colorful fantasy with ancient Greek influences that is a delight to read.”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 2022-09-14
Devlin dives into the opulent Cerenian court to save her home.

Once united, the two monarchies of Aris and Cerena are now locked in bitter hatred thanks to a shared history of betrayal. While the citizens of Aris live in fear of the next attack, with their magic casters’ dwindling ability to produce the enchanted, silvery filigree that holds the encroaching Mists and phantoms at bay, the people of Cerena live in fearless luxury, wasting filigree on ornamental uses. When Devlin is sent into Cerena to kidnap Layde Alyse, their strongest magic caster, she sees it as a chance to save her country and prove herself, both as a spy and as the daughter of the Whisperer of Aris. Going undercover as a Cerenian, Devlin learns about her enemy’s reality: the beauty of filigree art, social inequities, court politics, the true history of their world, and the nature of Alyse herself. The discussions of resource disparities between the countries, the importance of art, and the impact of societal trauma offer realistic parallels to modern societies. Asexual Devlin’s internal struggles with self-image—understanding her strength, dealing with failure, subsuming her own thoughts beneath her mother’s, and recognizing her own value—are contrasted with her budding friendship with trusting, optimistic Alyse. This work contains a hopeful message about pushing through self-doubt to make changes to your world. The cast is mostly assumed White.

Remarkably grounded in realism while displaying a fantastic and imaginative nature. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews