Scorpica

The people of the Five Queendoms lose the ability to produce girls in this refreshing epic fantasy from Macallister (The Arctic Fury). No one knows the cause of this so-called Drought of Girls, but it is devastating for the matriarchal societies. Of the queendoms, the Amazon-like Scorpicans depend the most on their ability to produce daughters, and as their nation dwindles, unrest grows in their ranks. The magical Arcans, meanwhile, hunt for an all-magic-girl who can inherit the throne of the Daybreak Palace. Record-keeping Bastion, agrarian Sestia, and trade-hub Paxim do not have such specific needs, but are ruled by women nonetheless and depend on daughters for heirs. As the Drought stretches on for a decade, the long-standing peace between countries teeters in the balance. Macallister twines the stories of women from each of these societies as they struggle with loss and search for solutions. She does a good job keeping each perspective as exciting as the last. The page-turning plot and intricate worldbuilding makes this a must-read for fans of Game of Thrones and Priory of the Orange Tree. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Mar.)