The Fire Wish

Debut author Lough introduces two courageous, resilient heroines in this series opener, a historical fantasy set in Baghdad’s Golden Age. Humans and jinn once lived in peace, advancing scientific knowledge through cooperation, but are now at war. Zayele, a free-spirited 16-year-old from Zab, where the war began, dreads her upcoming marriage to the caliph’s son Kamal; she’ll have to leave behind her blind brother. Zayele makes a wish to trade places with the unwilling jinni Najwa. Reflecting the author’s background in military intelligence, Najwa, part of the prestigious Eyes of Iblis Corps, must investigate the game-changing weapon Kamal is developing. As both girls struggle to undo Zayele’s wish, they uncover their shared, hidden past and become targets of deadly intrigue. Though sometimes predictable, Lough’s novel distinguishes itself by its willingness to follow through on the consequences of its protagonists’ actions. “We know you didn’t mean to harm Najwa, but what is disturbing is that you so freely took from someone else,” the wise Faisal explains to Zayele before sending her to rescue Najwa and reverse her mistake. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (July)