The Last Namsara

August 1, 2017
Ciccarelli's debut checks all the boxes for teen high fantasy.Asha, the Iskari (a ceremonial warrior named for "a deadly" god) and a princess, believes in the new order of her homeland: dragons should be killed, not worshipped; skrals deserve their enslavement--collared, penned, not allowed to look at draksors, members of the ruling caste. As a child, Asha rebelled and told stories to dragons until the First Dragon, Kozu, burned her and half the city. Now she mostly toes the line. But a rule-breaking (and attractive) slave, the return of Kozu, an allegiance with the scrublanders, and Asha's impending wedding to the sadistic commandant lead Asha to rebellion. Ciccarelli has clearly poured care into both the creation of her world, which rests on a religious foundation without a real-world analogue, and her complex but well-managed plotting. The limited characterization and curious lack of physical descriptors (the enslaved skral seem to be fair-skinned) detract a bit from the worldbuilding, and readers may find the princess-slave love story inherently problematic. Even if destined by the Old One and although slavery is clearly positioned as not OK, this is an inherently unbalanced relationship, something the text acknowledges but resolves largely through a fairly literal deus ex machina. However, the underlying theme of strong females making change and the interesting setting will carry the day for many. Likely to be popular despite the pressing flaws, and--pleasantly surprising for a duology opener--a satisfying tale on its own. (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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October 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Asha has grown up as the Iskari, the one known to bring death. She is the dragon slayer for the king, her father. To lure the dragons to her, she tells the forbidden old stories that the dragons can't ignore, although the tales are fatal. When tasked by the king to destroy the First Dragon, she agrees to do it because her reward will be not having to marry Jarek, the cruel leader of her father's army. Her task gets complicated when the Old One, a god, demands that she protect the dragons instead of killing them, and she follows his command. As she struggles to avoid marriage, obey the king, and not anger the Old One, secrets are unearthed that change her whole existence. She must decide who to trust and how to realize her true self. Ciccarelli brings to life a world filled with dragons and folklore. The plot blends perfectly with the use of old tales. This coming-of-age narrative shows the struggles of learning to trust one's own mind and heart. VERDICT Fantasy YA readers will love this story of a girl and her dragons. They will be dying to know what happens on their next adventure.-Jessica Strefling, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
Grades 8-11 Princess Asha appears to be her father's pride and joy in a way her seemingly weaker older brother, Dax, can never be. She's on a quest to exterminate dragons, something her father tells her is necessary to the kingdom Firgaard's survival; he betroths her to his cruel-hearted commandant; and he praises the dragon fire scar that traces one side of her body. When Asha is attracted to slave Torwin, it is only the beginning of her journey to truth and honor, and to discovering her father's real nature. Is she her father's weapon or her country's true hero? Firgaard history and myth are bound up with dragons and their lore, and the plotline alternates with short dragon stories that connect to Asha's current life. First-time novelist Ciccarelli offers an above-average romantic adventure that pulls readers in with careful pacing and something of a twist at the end. Villains are sometimes but not always easy to recognize, and Asha wrestles with her own prejudice (class rather than race) as she sorts the good from the bad.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
Asha, the king's daughter, is a dragon hunter who lures her prey with forbidden stories. To escape an unwanted betrothal, Asha must kill the powerful First Dragon that scarred her years ago; meanwhile, political secrets, ancient spirits, and a daring young slave draw her attention away. Layered mysteries keep Asha--and readers--in the dark for much of this complex fantasy.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)