The Boys of Fire and Ash

In this immersive fantasy, Urgle is one of the boys of the Ikkuma Pit, left alone in the ash of a volcanic caldera as babies; those who live through the night are taken in by "Big Brothers" and taught to survive. At maturity, they must leave the pit forever. When Blaze, a returnee from the outside, seeks refuge, he brings destruction with him, and Urgle's "Little Brother," Cubby, is taken away by bestial Tunrars. Urgle is unskilled, but he'll do anything to save his Little Brother. Together with Blaze and a tiny band of Ikkuma boys, he sets off to find the Beginners' High Temple, a cult with sinister plans for Cubby. The underlying creation myth that tries to explain why the tribe would abandon its male babies is somewhat hard to swallow, but the novel is urgently gritty, with rich worldbuilding and plenty of action. McIsaac's debut is at its best when it focuses on Urgle, a misfit among the discarded, cleaving to his quest in a world so alien to him. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. Agent: Alison McDonald, The Rights Factory. (May)