King

Gr 9 Up—In this final installment of the series, Kira continues her quest to collect the lost treasures, unite the seven kingdoms, fulfill the ancient prophecy, and, in so doing, defeat the evil forces invading their lands. Along the way, she also confronts her romantic feelings for her friend and would-be suitor Jaewon, saves her cousin the crown prince of Hansong from an evil dragon, and battles armies of demons. This is a fast-paced fantasy/adventure novel, with a realistic portrayal of teenage insecurity and romance. Kira is a likable underdog and the relationships within her extended family develop in a way that bring depth to what could otherwise be just another action tale. Early romantic encounters between Kira and Jaewon could give teens the mistaken idea that "no" does not always mean "no," but the message of empowerment and finding one's inner strength come across even stronger. Overall, this is a fulfilling end to an action-packed trilogy with characters that readers will be sad to let go.—Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT