About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their teenager feels like they are being treated as a pawn in someone else's game, whether that is due to family expectations or societal pressures. This imaginative fantasy explores the struggle for agency in a world where powerful forces (metaphorized as gods playing a board game with living castles) move people around without their consent. It follows 16-year-old Burr and his sisters as they attempt to reclaim their autonomy from a system that views them as collateral damage. While the setting is magical, the emotional core focuses on justice, sibling loyalty, and the courage to challenge authority. It is a sophisticated YA novel that rewards deep thinking and offers a hopeful, if gritty, look at standing up for one's community.
