The Smoke Thieves

Gr 9 Up—Catherine, the 16-year-old daughter of the king of Brigant is enamored with Ambrose, a member of her father's royal guard. Ambrose's sister is convicted of treason and executed, but not before she can send Catherine a hidden message with the words boy, smoke, and threat. Almost immediately after the execution, Catherine is sent away to a neighboring kingdom to marry their "hideously deformed" young ruler. Meanwhile Tash, an apprentice demon hunter, kills demons for their narcotic smoke. Edyon, the bastard son of Prince Telonias and a petty thief, is caught stealing smoke and not-so-accidentally meets March, who has been sent to bring him to his father as the last remaining heir to the throne. Five young people with nothing in common find that their lives and fortunes intersect as monarchs die, plots are uncovered, and dynasties rise and fall. Initially, the disparate plotlines are a bit confusing, but all becomes clear when the five come together and uncover a terrible secret that may destroy them all. The cliff-hanger ending in this trilogy opener will guarantee a high demand for the sequels.