A Sparrow Among Stars by Sara Puissegur

Fight or Flight? The sparrow must do both to survive. Determined to keep his stolen crown and the besieged kingdom of Hyrosencia, King Antoine Rexton hunts Garrick loyalists without remorse. When his bloodthirst fixes upon Serena Finch, he orders his Enforcing Army to kill her and anyone who stands between them. Labeled a traitor by the unrelenting sovereign, Serena must flee her idyllic homeland and cross treacherous mountains to seek asylum in the City of Mercy, the last stronghold of Queen Elara Garrick’s realm. As Elara secures alliances through her wedding, Rexton’s son, Crown Prince Anteros, interrogates their newest prisoner—and Serena’s best friend—Talitha Vise, forging an unlikely friendship that could further unravel his father. Guided by the queen’s elite guardians, Serena must learn to wield her father’s sword if she wants to survive the barrage of aggressors in their path. But when faced with dangers untold, will the gentle girl from Durmak find the strength to fight, or will she be caught in the tyrant’s snare?

Young Adult • Fantasy/Epic and High • Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery • Fantasy/Court Intrigue

Content Warning: Intense fight scenes, physical injury, mention of blood, death, death of parent, sibling/child, & animals (rabbits for food, wolves who attack them), mention of past miscarriage/child loss, alludes to rape occuring off-page,