First in a planned trilogy, Pool's Mediterranean-inspired fantasy debut explores issues of family, faith, fate, and free will. For millennia, the Seven Prophets helped guide humanity through visions of the future. Then they vanished, leaving behind one final prophecy forecasting the birth of a Last Prophet, who will be able to forestall an Age of Darkness. One hundred years later, the Prophets' prediction appears to be coming true: a leader dubbed the Hierophant and his acolytes seek to snuff out magic and all those who possess it, while the Order of the Last Light believes that they've found the individual meant to stop him. The tale unfolds from the perspectives of five ethnically and socially diverse teenagers: paranoid fugitive Anton, exiled prince Hassan, conflicted knight Jude, single-minded assassin Ephyra, and terminally ill Beru. Pool skillfully manages her large ensemble cast, intertwining both their destinies and their story lines as their paths converge. Although initially dense with character introductions and complex worldbuilding, this inventive, gripping novel's narrative drive remains strong thanks to its high stakes, abundant action, and realistic romances both gay and straight. Ages 14--up. (Sept.)

A prophecy foretells that an age of darkness will come down upon the land unless a new prophet can prevent it. This time of reckoning throws the storys diverse cast of five young protagonists into danger theyd never imagined. Ephyra and Beru are sisters; one is deathly ill and the other is a deadly killer. They meet Anton, a reckless gambler running from his past, in the classical city of Pallas Athos. Meanwhile, Hassan, an exiled crown prince, is hiding in Pallas Athos; and the paladin Jude believes he has found the new prophet. Their paths all converge in this daring, epic fantasy adventure, in which the characters face betrayals, inescapable destinies, and intense trials of faith. Pool has crafted an intricate story line that includes many different points of view; chapters alternate characters perspectives. Everyone has an important role to play, and the tension only grows as fate brings them all together (a sprinkling of romance keeps the intense plot from feeling too grim). Readers will be eager for a sequel. Sarah Berman January/February 2020 p.96(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"The Age of Darkness is almost upon us."One hundred years ago the Seven Prophets disappeared from the world, leaving one last secret prophecy predicting an Age of Darkness, the end of the Graced, the destruction of all civilization, and a Last Prophet who will know how to prevent it all. The Order of the Last Light has been lying in wait ever since for the harbingers to appear: The rise of the Deceiver (the Hierophant, a man bent on destroying the Graced) and the murders committed by the Pale Hand signal that the time has finally come. And then the Last Prophet is found. Five young people who share the narrativea prince, a murderer, a dying sister, a warrior, and a gamblerhave roles to play as the Last Prophecy unfolds and the world starts to change. This epic fantasy novel revels in rich worldbuilding, deftly plays with genre expectations, and thoughtfully examines the power dynamics between those born with abilities and those without as well as the friction between free will and prophecy. A cast of fully developed, flawed, and endearing characters whose actions are genuinely unpredictable are present and accounted for in a world full of brown and queer people in this story that continually walks the fine line between darkness and hope. A well-crafted, surprising, and gripping start to a new trilogy. (Fantasy. 14-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 9 Up--Multiple viewpoints share the narrative in debut author Pool's imagined world, constructed with hints of Greek and Middle Eastern influences. (For example, places named Pallas Athos, Herat, "the agora," and Nazirah; meals of lamb stew and pomegranate; characters named Hassan and Ephyra). In this world, the Graced have heightened powers, which make them targets for jealous attacks each time they manifest their enhanced strength, senses, energy, and more. Working-class Anton (with his talent at gambling); prince-in-disguise Hassan; good-hearted Khepri; sisters Ephyra and Beru; and Jude, the Last Prophet and Keeper of the Word, twist in and out of one another's orbits, caught up in their uncertain times. For the last 100 years, the Age of Darkness has been foretold, and now it looks like these older teens hold the keys to both destruction and salvation. First in a planned trilogy, the book sets the stage rather than concludes the story. The shifting narratives require attention, but there is ample payoff. VERDICT Teens looking for epic fantasy can immerse themselves in Pool's world, where the Witnesses have developed deadly Godfire, the Pale Hand is stalking, and the Age of Darkness appears just over the horizon.--Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX

Once, there were Prophets to guide the world; a century ago, they vanished, leaving behind a final prophecy that foretold the coming of death, the rise of the wicked, and an Age of Darkness. That time has come at last, but the prophecy spoke, too, of someone who could either save the world or destroy it: someone with a strong gift of Sight, one of the four magical Graces that some people possess. As the events of the prophecy begin to unfold, the lives of five people intertwine: Ephyra, who should be a healer but will kill for those she loves; Beru, her dying sister; Hassan, an exiled prince; Anton, a gambler running from his past; and Jude, a soldier torn between loyalty and desire. All five characters share the third-person narrative, and it can be a lot for this debut to handle; character development is sometimes sacrificed in favor of plot. Still, there is much here that will draw readers, and an action-packed ending will have them eager for the inevitable sequel.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2019 Booklist