Tara Nikkel and the Dream Mage (Tara Nikkel Books)

The Last Windwitch

The Giant's Giant (The Giants of StoneHold)

Brave: Magical Story

Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies

Thornlight

Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian

The Boy Who Went Magic

The Scarlet Alchemist 

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Tara Nikkel and the Dream Mage (Tara Nikkel Books)

R.A. Sapp, 2015

The Last Windwitch

Jennifer Adam, 2021

The Giant's Giant (The Giants of StoneHold)

Mark Cheverton, 2020

Brave: Magical Story

Barbara Bazaldua, Walt Disney Company, 2012

Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies

George Jreije, 2023

Thornlight

Claire Legrand, 2021

Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian

Tim Probert, 2022

The Boy Who Went Magic

A.P. Winter, 2018