THE CHAINBREAKERS

Violet Moon, 12, must bring the Five Heavens together for a dangerous mission to save her father.

Beneath the ocean waves lies the realm called the Tides of the Lost, with “water above and water below but air in between.” In this space, the people of the Five Heavens, descendants of the Sun People—“children of a gold continent”—have found refuge from the Chainmakers, who sought to enslave them. This is where Violet, a Black girl, lives as a Reaper with her father, Virgil, the captain of the Mooney. She’s spent her life at the helm of the Heaven of Horizon’s ship, helping to save Passengers, or souls, who are lost in the waters. But a Passenger rescue mission is thwarted by the Children of the Shark, Chainmakers transformed into ghostly shark-demons. They capture Violet’s father, who vanishes into the Depths. The Mark of the Scythe, a lavender tattoo, is transferred to Violet, acknowledging her as the Mooney’s new captain, and she sets off to save her father and the others who have been pulled into a dark, dangerous lair. Violet is a powerful lead who’s sharp-witted and brave and leans on friends when needed. The eloquently descriptive worldbuilding will paint vivid images in readers’ minds.

A magical high-seas adventure led by a strong girl with a powerful message of hope.