A Consuming Fire

A grief-stricken teen seeks vengeance against a god for her sibling’s unjust death in this fury-laced tale of sacrifice and defiance by Weymouth (A Rush of Wings), set in an alternate historical Britain. Every 18 years, the landlocked forest town of Weatherell must select one teen girl to offer some aspect of themselves, such as their hands or their memory, to appease the mountain god who watches over the island of Albion. But when Anya’s twin, Ilva, is chosen, and the god denounces her as unworthy, she returns home seemingly unharmed, only to mysteriously die in Anya’s arms. After Anya promises her village that she will go as a replacement, she secretly vows to slay the god. Accompanied by a capricious shape-shifting thief, Anya makes the arduous journey across Albion, realizing that her isolated upbringing hasn’t prepared her for the complexity of the larger world, or the true nature behind the god’s bargain. Anya’s righteous anger is palpable, and her evolution from sheltered small-town girl to determined god killer is exquisitely rendered. Utilizing lyrical language, memorable characters, and a romantic undertone, Weymouth crafts a meditative fantasy worth savoring. Characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Triada US. (Nov.)