The Raven Heir

Twelve-year-old triplets Cordelia, Giles, and Rosalind have spent their lives in a castle hidden deep in an enchanted forest, with only their sorceress mother, older half brother, and a family friend for company. Shapeshifter Cordelia yearns to roam the woods freely, while Rosalind trains as a warrior and Giles embraces his love of music. When armored troops break through the castle’s magical defenses, claiming that one of the triplets is rightful heir to the Raven Throne of Corvenne, the triad—unaware of who was born first—are forced to flee rather than become pawns in a brutal struggle for succession, while the remaining family is taken prisoner. As the three potential royals cross a war-torn land to uncover long-held secrets and save their loved ones, Cordelia is guided by mysterious voices and impulses that may help her heal the broken kingdom. This simultaneously brief and leisurely paced duology opener may leave readers hoping for more out of the next volume, but Burgis’s (the Tales from the Chocolate Heart series) focus on how the land influences the closely knit family of cued-white characters—each bearing complementary and unique gifts—results in a vividly described setting and a strong, shifting sibling dynamic. Ages 8–11. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, the Bent Agency. (Sept.)