A Prayer for Vengeance

Desperate to escape the shadow of her sister Adalena, the ruler of the ancient city of Tresatto, and eager to please temple leader Ennio, 16-year-old Gia helps him overthrow her. Though he promised that Gia would rule by his side, Ennio betrays her by turning her, and all who oppose him, to stone. A thousand years pass before autistic 17-year-old temple warden Milo somehow releases Gia from her rocky prison. Reeling from the knowledge that Ennio has become an immortal ruler, Gia must rely on Milo if she hopes to enact her revenge. But her freedom is temporary—Ennio’s curse is tied to the moon. While she’s human at night, by day she’s trapped in the stone once more, and in a month, she will be imprisoned again forever. Now Gia and Milo must combat an entire city of Ennio’s worshippers to defeat him. As Gia and Milo grow closer romantically, they find their worldviews challenged, especially as Milo realizes his entire sense of purpose has been built on Ennio’s treachery. Schwartz relies on plot conveniences to craft this uneven mythological debut. Still, through a dynamic blend of action and magic, Schwartz conjures an alluring adventure that interrogates belief, faith, and perception. Most characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lee O’Brien, Irene Goodman Literary. (Sept.)