{"product_id":"sword-and-verse-isbn-9780062324610","title":"Sword and Verse","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn a sweeping fantasy that award-winning author Franny Billingsley calls \"fascinating and unique,\" debut author Kathy MacMillan weaves palace intrigue and epic world-building to craft a tale for fans of Rae Carson and Megan Whalen Turner.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRaisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery in the kingdom of Qilara. Before she was taken away, her father had been adamant that she learn to read and write. But where she now lives, literacy is a capital offense for all but the nobility. The written language is closely protected, and only the King, Prince, Tutor, and Tutor-in-training are allowed to learn its very highest form.\u003cp\u003eSo when she is plucked from her menial labor and selected to replace the last Tutor-in-training who was executed, Raisa knows that betraying any hint of her past could mean death.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeeping her secret guarded is hard enough, but the romance that's been blossoming between her and Prince Mati isn't helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground rebel army—to help liberate the city's slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePalace Intrigue:\u003c\/b\u003e As Tutor-in-training to Prince Mati, Raisa walks a knife’s edge. One misstep could expose her secret literacy and lead to her execution.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLove Versus Duty:\u003c\/b\u003e Falling for the prince was never part of the plan. Now, Raisa must choose between her heart and her people as a rebel army forces her to decide where her loyalties truly lie.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA World of Secrets and Lies:\u003c\/b\u003e In a kingdom where reading is a death sentence for slaves, Raisa’s very existence is a crime. But she’s not the only one with something to hide—the entire kingdom is built on a secret that could shatter its foundations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eEpic Fantasy for Book Lovers:\u003c\/b\u003e Perfect for fans of Rae Carson and Megan Whalen Turner, this lush fantasy combines epic world-building with a story that celebrates the power of words.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“I was completely enthralled by the fascinating and unique world. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFranny Billingsley, award-winning author of Chime\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“MacMillan has created a believable world, complete with its own mythology. For voracious and dedicated fantasy readers.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“MacMillan’s love of learning, knowledge, and literacy shapes both plot and character development, while raising ethical questions with no easy answers. Beneath what appears to be a romantic fantasy, discerning readers will find complex, broader issues among the predictable comforts of the genre.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Fans of Megan Whalen Turner will enjoy MacMillan’s debut.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A thoughtful debut fantasy.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“This is a highly satisfying novel with an exciting conclusion. Filled with romance, political intrigue, and rebellion, this page-turner will be in high demand by fantasy lovers.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVoice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A tense, romantic fantasy epic about prejudice, political struggle, and the power of words, SWORD AND VERSE kept me guessing at every turn. Kathy MacMillan is a writer to watch.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eR.J. Anderson, Andre Norton Award-nominated author of ULTRAVIOLET\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888753570021,"sku":"NP9780062324610","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062324610.jpg?v=1730229763","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/sword-and-verse-isbn-9780062324610","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}