THE CITY BEYOND THE STARS (The Kingdom Over the Sea), by Zohra Nabi, Margaret K. McElderry Books, May 14, 2024, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl and her friends change the fate of their kingdom and magic in The City Beyond the Stars, the sequel to The Kingdom over the Sea, by Zohra Nabi.
Yara may have stopped the magical plague spreading its way through her new home, but to do so, she had to leave her mother in the hands of the sinister alchemists.
Now Yara longs to return to Zehaira and free her mother from her prison. Yet when her mother’s familiar arrives, close to death and bearing a message, Yara must put aside her plans to rescue her and instead set off with her friends to the official residence of the Grand High Sorceress, convinced it holds magic powerful enough to defeat the alchemists.
After a treacherous journey, Yara finds her mother’s house, and in it, a girl claiming to be the daughter of the Grand High Sorceress—a sister Yara didn’t know she had. Meanwhile, the alchemists are circling ever closer, and the magic that Yara’s mother was working threatens the foundations of their world.
Yara is unsure if her newfound sister can be trusted, but she is going to need all the help she can get if she wants to save their mother and take back Zehaira from the alchemists’ rule. —Synopsis provided by Margaret K. McElderry Books
First off, if you haven’t already read The Kingdom Over the Sea, read it first. Second, if it’s been a year since you read The Kingdom Over the Sea, do yourself a favor, and reread it. You can thank me later.
In the first book, readers are introduced to Yara, A girl who fulfills her mother’s mysterious last wish and travels to a mystical land to discover her heritage. Once there, Yara learns magic has been outlawed, and the Sultan’s alchemists are plotting a sinister scheme. Things come to a head when Yara discovers the key to her own identity and the truth about her mother’s past.
The City Beyond the Stars jumps right back into the story without a lot of recap, so a reread is in order. The story once again centers around Yara. Yara’s personal growth and growth within friendships continue to develop and provide a nice grounding.
Author Zohra Nabi’s writing remains strong. Smooth and comfortable prose keep the story moving forward while her magical system remains accessible to readers.
Fans of the first book may be disappointed to learn there are only two books in this series, but it’s nice to see a middle-grade fantasy series remain within a certain scope.
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