An airship crash lands on an unknown island. A teenage smuggler brings a dragoness aboard the ship, and when it escapes on the island it sets its sights on killing all the passengers. A teenage boy suspected of murder is a prisoner on the airship, unable to use the magic that could save the survivors. In the aftermath of the crash, Pearl, the smuggler, and Marken, the prisoner, forge an alliance but neither shares their deepest secrets. It's a dark story with treachery, killings, and secrets galore, and the world building is creative, intense, and original. I loved the characters and the magical secrets they shared little by little with each other. This fantasy is not for the faint of heart or for younger readers, but it's great for young teens who are ready to step up their reading. Highly recommended for readers ages 13-up.
