Scorpion queen

When 16-year-old Amie's sister accuses her of an affair that she herself committed, Amie is disowned by her family, forbidden from marrying her lover Kader, and forced to work as a handmaid for Princess Mariama of the Mali empire. The princess is plagued by guilt and endures night terrors about trials implemented by her father, Emperor Sulyeman, who requires her potential suitors to complete an impossible task. If they fail, they are publicly boiled alive, with the promise that anyone who survives may marry her. As Amie adjusts to life at the castle, she plans to run away with Kader after a year. But the closer she gets to Mariama and the more she uncovers about the Scorpion Order, a secret sinister organization of sorcerers plotting to oust imperial rule, the less likely escape--and survival--become. A slow start soon yields pulse-pounding twists that breathe life into Fears's compelling debut. Political intrigue, terrifying gods, mesmerizing magic, and a complex love triangle coalesce in a dark and brutal historical fantasy helmed by a disgraced heroine determined to forge her own path. Ages 12--up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (Jan.)