A Song of Salvation

Seventeen-year-old Zaira Citlali is the last survivor of the magically gifted nightweavers, who were murdered by the colonizing Ilori. As the seemingly powerless reincarnation of Indigo, the god of creation, Zaira is meant to be sacrificed to Ozvios, the god of destruction. Unbeknownst to the Ilori, the nightweavers live on as spirits in the shadows, but if Zaira doesn’t harness her power, the world and the souls of her people will be lost forever. Upon escaping her scheduled execution by the Ilori emperor, Zaira meets Andarran empath Wesley Daniels, a transporter of mysterious items and creatures. Together with Rubin Rima, an anti-authoritarian podcaster whom Wesley was hired to smuggle to Earth, the three teens embark on a desperate mission to defeat the Ilori and set Zaira’s people free. Featured subplots and characters from previous titles by Dow (The Kindred) can sometimes feel underdeveloped in this jam-packed novel. Still, Dow imbues the protagonists with vivacious personality that comes through in zingy dialogue that also provides much-needed brevity amid the ensuing galactic drama. The importance of chosen family, humanity, and self-love predominate in this piercingly observed adventure that sheds light on the crimes and consequences of colonial occupation. Characters are racially diverse. Ages 13–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary. (July)