Untalented

When the Tests reveal that the orphaned Saroya is one of the Untalented—those without the aptitude to succeed in any field—she’s shunned and cast aside, good for nothing but hard labor. Her problems are compounded when she discovers that she may actually be the lost daughter of the current king, but no one will accept the word of an Untalented, and an imposter claims the role of princess instead. Now Saroya must find a way to prove her identity, little realizing that she’s a pawn in a dangerous political game. When plague strikes the city, Saroya may have a chance to rewrite the rules. Archer’s YA debut starts strong, with plenty of potential in its unusual premise. However, the plot suffers from a lack of focus: Saroya careens around the city from one problem to the next, going from Untalented orphan to castle drudge to would-be guild apprentice, all while ill-defined figures scheme in the background. Additionally, the worldbuilding isn’t entirely substantial; readers never get a clear picture of Saroya’s surroundings or how the system is supposed to work. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)