Call of the Dragon (Call of the Dragon #1)

Herbalist Moremi is the teenage daughter of the principal priestess to Yida, the dragon goddess, in an engrossing fantasy series opener from Bowen (Soul of the Deep), which expertly demonstrates the burden of being a chosen one. During a once-a-decade ceremony in which Yida’s earthbound stones align with her dragon god husband Dam’s constellations, the dragons select priests and priestesses to bear their mark and wield their magic to protect the Kingdom of Kwa. Dam chooses Moremi’s childhood best friend and secret crush, priest Nox, and though Moremi is chosen by Yida, the teen also bears Dam’s mark. Before Moremi can process this unexpected turn of events, the king reveals his intention to wrest control of both gods and their magic for himself, a violation of the kingdom’s beliefs. Insulted, the gods refuse to bless Kwa, leaving its people at the mercy of sinister shadow spirits and prompting Moremi to flee with handsome Kwa prince Jagun and her lifelong bully Zaye to track down the gods and complete the protection ritual. Intricate worldbuilding expands on popular fantasy tropes while crafting exhilarating new twists on common myths about the creation of humankind in this gripping tale of first love, divided loyalties, and loss narrated in doubting yet courageous Moremi’s sincere first-person POV. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Feb.)