The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1)

Kiva Meridan, 17, has been locked inside Zalindov prison since she and her father, Faran, were apprehended a decade earlier for suspected treason against the crown. Faran served as the prison’s healer until he died, leaving Kiva to inherit the role. Over the years, her relatives have smuggled in notes pledging rescue, but she’s losing hope when the recently captured Rebel Queen, Tilda Corentine, arrives in Zalindov’s infirmary. Though Tilda is ill and unconscious, the warden gives Kiva just one week to prepare her for Trial by Ordeal—four nigh-impossible elemental challenges that the woman must survive to prove her innocence. Shortly thereafter, Kiva’s family sends a message: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Despite Kiva’s best efforts, Tilda fails to improve, so to buy their saviors time, Kiva volunteers as her champion. Subplots involving an incurable prison-wide plague and the arrival of a handsome new inmate, Jaren, add mystery and romance to this high-stakes trilogy opener from Noni (the Whisper series). The pacing is leisurely and not every reveal bears scrutiny, but emotionally rich characters invest readers in their fates and drive the tale to a mind-boggling close. Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Danielle Burby, Nelson Literary. (Apr.) [/em]