Espada: The Will of the Blade

Gr 10 Up–Ania, the princess and heir apparent of a kingdom on a distant planet, questions the fable regarding lost magic. According to fables, magic used to belong to everyone until a feud over the throne accidentally summoned a demon. Due to the destruction the demon left in its path, upon defeat, it was declared that only the current ruler would weld magic. Ania has doubts about the validity of the fables, especially after she finds an ancient sword lying inside some ruins. When she and her mother, the queen, learn that the demon has returned, they must figure out a way to defeat him. Readers are taken on a visually ambient journey as Ania is sent on a royal missive, which becomes a quest of self-discovery and sorting out the mystery of her kingdom’s origins. While there are some rushed moments in the narrative, both the queen and the princess must make difficult choices to fulfill their duty. The use of color highlights the narrative enough that when darker tones are used, readers know it represents the conflict and the villains within the story. Ania has pale skin, dark hair, and blue eyes.