Trial by Fire

September 29, 2014
A native of Salem, Mass., Lily Proctor seems allergic to the worldâshe can't even go out with her crush Tristan without collapsing, sick, in front of her classmates. When a powerful witch named Lillian, identical to Lily in every way, tricks her into crossing into a parallel Salem, Lily's "allergies" become symptoms of her enormous power as a "Crucible." In this medieval yet modern alternate Salem (which Lillian rules), fearsome, manmade creatures called the Woven terrorize non-citizens. As at home, Lily has a sister, Juliet, and a friend named Tristan in this Salem, but there is also Rowan, a beautiful witch's mechanic, or attendant, to whom Lily is powerfully drawn. Angelini (the Starcrossed series) creates an escapist fantasy infused with magic and complicated romance, while taking up themes of science gone wrong and humans' endangerment of the world and their environment. The ways in which the two worlds mirror one anotherâspecifically, how Lily's weakness in one realm means strength in the otherâprovide emotional resonance and fascinating possibilities for subsequent books in the Worldwalker trilogy. Ages 12âup. Agent: Mollie Glick, Foundry Literary + Media.