Warrior Heir

Chima, Cinda Williams. Warrior Heir. Book 1 of the Heir Chronicles series. 2007. 426p. ISBN 9780786839179. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

At 16, Jack lives a good life, surrounded by a mother who loves him and neighbors who look out for him. As a baby, he had heart surgery and he must take medicine every day. One day, however, he forgets to take it, and during his soccer practice he experiences a growth in confidence and a strength he didn’t know he had, and accidentally almost kills another player.

Concerned for him, his aunt arranges for him to train with Hastings, the vice-principal. Jack learns that he is a Weirlind, one of the few people who have been imbued with magical abilities. Many members of his family tree have had these abilities, but not his mother. In fact, Jack has been sheltered from a magical war that has been happening for centuries. The wizards control the magical world, and everyone else, from sorcerers to enchanters, do their bidding. Two sides have evolved, the Red Rose and the White Rose, along with elaborate rules to prevent full wizard on wizard violence. And to settle feuds, the sides hold a tournament of warriors with a fight to the death. Jack is one of these warriors, so he must be trained and protected.

When a tournament is called, however, Jack runs out of time. Along with two friends and under Hasting’s training, Jack must get ready to fight. His survival, and that of his friends and family, depend on his victory.

Fans of fantasy will enjoy this mix of wizardry and modern world, where magic exists but is uncommon. For a similar take of someone discovering he has amazing power, read A Quest of Heroes.