Bone Witch

Cupecho, Rin. Bone Witch. 2017. 411p. ISBN 978-1-49263583-3. Available both as an ebook and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In a world where witches are not very rare, the most dreaded of them all are the bone witches, who are able to resurrect the dead and control the daeva, legendary monsters that reappear at regular intervals. Tea is not sure which type of witch she will grow into, but since all her sisters are witches she's sure to become one of them. Fox, her favorite older brother, who left to fight in the kingdom's wars, is returned home to be buried, and in her grief Tea brings him back to life with a power she didn't know she has.

Scorned by the people of her village, she is quickly entrusted to Mykaela, the last of the bone witches, so she can be trained in the proper arts of Ashas, those who are able to wield the magic of the elements. Accompanied by Fox, they travel to the kingdom's capital city to begin her apprenticeship. Agents of the Dark Prince, who first created the daeva out of dark magic, are creating chaos and spreading death, and Tea soon finds herself having to put her training to the test.

With the forces of the Dark Prince preparing for war, Tea finds herself faced with two distinct paths to follow... Fans of fantasy in an Asian setting will appreciate the world Cupecho created.

Nimona

Stevenson, Noelle. Nimona. 2015. 266p. ISBN 978-0-06-227824-1. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

The kingdom has been kept safe from supervillains by the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, who enforces actions against vigilantes and villains alike. Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin is the posterboy for the Institution, beloved by all and always ready to serve and protect. Lord Ballister Blackheart trained with Goldenloin many years ago, but following a joust he lost an arm to the good knight. Ever since then he has vowed revenge on Goldenloin and on the Institution.

When Nimona shows up on his doorstep, Blackheart doesn’t know what to do with her. She looks way too young to be a sidekick. Soon, however, he realizes that Nimona is a shapeshifter who’s very interested in villainy. He takes her on, and together they plan to bring down the Institution, for it is in fact not so much concerned to protect the kingdom as to rather control it. Nimona is useful and determined, but her lack of villainous etiquette means many civilians are getting hurt. As Blackheart’s plan moves forward, casualties are mounting and he learns more about Nimona and her dark past, he realizes that Nimona powers and abilities come at a cost that might exceed what he’s willing to pay.

Originally a web comic, Nimona and Blackheart’s tale is engaging and provides a different look at villains being the “heroes” of the tale. Blackheart’s dark castle is balanced by the colorful sceneries of the town. Blackheart, Goldenloin and Nimona share similar characteristics and their relationships become complicated as the story progresses. Fans of fantasy and of villains will appreciate this tale of destruction and redemption.