The Last Legacy

In this sumptuously rendered historical novel, Young (Fable) deftly explores concepts of family, loyalty, and growing into one’s destiny. Sent away following her parents’ death to be raised as a lady, Bryn Roth dreams of the day that she’ll return to her infamous family. But uncertainty descends when her 18th birthday brings a letter recalling her to Bastian—unsure of her welcome and her place, she’s quickly consumed by the betrayals and machinations that make up the brutal merchant family’s infamous reputation. Her uncle Henrik rules the family with an iron fist, and Bryn soon learns that she’s part of his plans to enter society’s upper echelons by way of the merchant’s guild, whether she likes it or not. While undeniably drawn to the family’s silversmith, Ezra, Bryn must prioritize between survival, her place in the family, and her heart. Minimalist world-building in a quasi-Victorian setting foregrounds the novel’s focus on the way the complicated, cued-white family’s structure subsumes individual needs, while Bryn’s arc of self-discovery unfolds with an appealing yearning. Ages 12–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary. (Sept.)