FLAMECASTER, by Cinda Williams Chima

The story: When Ash (Adrian sul'Han, son of Raisa and Han of 7 Realms fame) witnessed his father's murder, he goes into hiding--and into training. Four years later, he's a healer...and an assassin. Self-assigned to deal with the evil Gerard Montaigne, king of Arden, he meets prisoner Jenna Bandelow: a girl with a strange magemark, who's being hunted by the mysterious Empress Celestine. Together, they can either deal with Montaigne and make their getaway--or slip up, and bring the Seven Realms crumbling down with them.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence R; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder, political intrigue, black magic) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: So happy for another entry in the world of the 7 Realms (truly, my all-time favorite YA series ever). Flamecaster doesn't disappoint, although realistically, it's better for grades 9 and up. The complex world building is a little easier to understand when you;re already familiar with the earlier volumes, but that's not required. There's plenty of heavy-duty making out here that will no doubt lead to something else later in the series, so be aware of that too, especially if purchasing for MS readers. Oh, and spoiler alert: there's a dragon! Sweet!