To the Death

Tang (These Deadly Prophecies) explores cycles of corruption, emotional abuse, and grief in this complex and high-stakes sapphic romantasy. Tamsin Blackwood, 18, seeks to escape from the shadow of her father, Mateus, a retired magical duelist who views Tamsin only as an extension of his legacy. When 18-year-old Samantha Chan—the training partner of Tamsin’s rival, Lysander Rook—challenges her to a duel with a hefty cash prize, Tamsin immediately accepts, intending to use the reward money to strike out on her own. Unbeknownst to Tamsin, however, the duel is part of Sam’s plan to avenge her late older brother, who was killed by Mateus. But Sam’s strategy to befriend Tamsin and exploit her weaknesses in preparation for the duel goes awry as she starts developing feelings for her competitor. Similarly, loner Tamsin’s single-minded focus begins to falter when faced with her and Sam’s seemingly genuine connection as well as the discovery of her father’s secret history. Quickly paced dual POVs rendered via confident prose deftly unpack both teens’ individual challenges alongside their steadily growing attraction, ensuring a satisfying action-adventure narrative that’s enriched by heart-fluttering romance. The protagonists are Chinese American. Ages 14–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Feb.)