Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent - HIGH

Daughter of No Worlds (War of Lost Hearts Vol 1) by Carissa Broadbent, 506 pages. Broadbent. 2019. $33.

Language: R (85 swears 58  'f'); Mature Content: R (Mention prostitution, non-sexual and sexual nudity, one scene of explicit and detailed sex); Violence: R (Bloody and intense fighting, killing briefly discussed rape, mentioned suicide) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

It seems that everyone 21yo Tissanah loves, she is bound to leave. First her mother when Tissanah was first taken into slavery, and now eight years later, when an attempt to buy her freedom turns sour, she must leave her best friend. But she must go, she will not leave him there. To help her fellow slaves, Tissanah needs backup and the magical Orders of the country Ara is the perfect solution. However, to gain the respect of the Orders she must put up with her stubborn and frustrating (and annoyingly attractive) mentor, Max, in order to pass the test and join the Orders. Max just wants to live out the rest of his life alone, surrounded by his garden and silence. Initially, Tissanah is an unwelcome nuisance, but as they become friends, Max gains a strong respect and admiration for his apprentice. She is nearly as stubborn as he is and a fiery determination that he finds invigorating. She will do anything to reach her goal. 

Broadbent is one of those authors that everything I have read by her is simply masterful! She balances character development and world-building along with plot pacing satisfyingly. She also has created such an interesting and unique plot! (This one was a mix of Shadow and Bone and Venom if that makes any sense.) One of my favorite things about her is that she can immerse you in the story from the very first chapter and you already feel connected to the characters and invested in the plot. Naturally, the book does contain some heavy themes. As a slave, Tissanah experienced rape, abuse, and prostitution but none of these themes are lingered on along with Max's suicidal past. There is one brief explicit sex scene but it is one that focuses on the love they have for each other's souls and does not focus on carnal or lusty aspects. Many characters are albino, as it is one of the forms that power is manifest. Most characters are white. Serel is gay. 

Sierra Finlinson, High School Teacher