Belle Révolte
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
From the author of the Mask of Shadows duology comes this fast-paced YA fantasy, where two young women must trade lives, work together to stay alive, and end a war caused by magic and greed
Emilie des Marais is more at home holding scalpels than embroidery needles and is desperate to escape her noble roots to serve her country as a physician. But society dictates a noble lady cannot perform such gruesome work.
Annette Boucher, overlooked and overworked by her family, wants more from life than her humble beginnings and is desperate to be trained in magic. So when a strange noble girl offers Annette the chance of a lifetime, she accepts.
Emilie and Annette swap lives—Annette attends finishing school as a noble lady to be trained in the ways of divination, while Emilie enrolls to be a physician's assistant, using her natural magical talent to save lives.
But when their nation instigates a terrible war, Emilie and Annette come together to help the rebellion unearth the truth before it's too late.
Belle Révolte is "a welcome twist on the tropes of sword and sorcery novels" (School Library Journal), perfect for readers looking for:
•tween and teen LGBTQ+ books
•high fantasy with asexual and aromantic representation
•lesbian and gay fairy tales
•books with trans and non-binary characters
Praise for Belle Révolte:
"A bursting-at-the-seams stand-alone empowerment story."—Kirkus Reviews
"Hand to any lover of magic, rebellion, secrets, and self-discovery."—Booklist
"Fast-paced fantasy with a pair of determined female protagonists. A welcome twist on the tropes of sword and sorcery novels." —School Library Journal
"A well-imagined world, with richly drawn characters with much LGBTQ diversity." —Youth Services Book Review
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this provocative fantasy, two young women tackle themes of power, privilege, and politics when they switch identities to pursue their dreams. Noble-born Emilie des Marais, 16, wants to become a physician, a role usually forbidden women of her class because of the corruptive toll the magical "noonday arts" exact. Common-born Annette Boucher wants to escape her domineering parents and master the less physically costly "midnight arts" of illusions, divination, and scrying, normally reserved for those who can afford the expensive education. At Emilie's urging, each girl takes the other's place. Their homeland, Demeine, is on the brink of war with a neighboring land as its king seeks to distract the populace from growing unrest surrounding the systematic exploitation of lesser magical talents, known as hacks, who take the brunt of magic for privileged clients, and both young women are pulled into the escalating conflict. Miller (Ruin of Stars) writes in lush, dense prose that can require a careful read, but her protagonists' awareness of privilege and desire to challenge the status quo shines through. LGBTQ representation including gay, trans, and nonbinary characters (Annette identifies as asexual biromantic) further widens this tale's appeal. Ages 12 up.
