Blood Heir (Blood Heir #1)

In this Russian-tinged fantasy from debut author Zhao, Affinites, exploited within the Cyrilian Empire for their myriad gifts, are trafficked within its borders, conned into contracts of indentured servitude, and made to control various elements. Eighteen-year-old Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess of the Cyrilian Empire, is a secret blood Affinite with the ability to exert physical control over others. After being framed for her father’s murder, Ana breaks crime lord Ramson Quicktongue out of prison to find her father’s true murderer and clear her name. Ana works to prove her innocence and Ramson works toward revenge against those who betrayed him, and the two become entangled in a revolution that seeks to overthrow the system of indentured servitude. As the dual quest proceeds, Ana reflects on the ethical use of her deadly power, and Ramson, who begins to know Affinites as people rather than commodities, comes to understand the aftereffects of his past support of human trafficking. Zhao’s plot imperils its protagonists time and again, leading the arc to feel repetitive and the protagonists less than capable. Still, this pointed exploration into the consequences of exploitation and the defining nature of choices may garner readership despite the melodrama. Ages 12–up. [em](Nov.) [/em]