Tempests and Slaughter: The Numair Chronicles, Book 1

Some gore, especially involving gladiators and their often fatal injuries. A lot more violence built into the fictional world, especially slavery, brutal treatment of many slaves, including enslaved gladiators whose only escape is death. A series of murders is an important plot element; teen characters may be targets. An enslaved female gladiator who's eventually killed says that that life is better than her childhood of being married off at 10 to an older man who raped her repeatedly.

Many minor characters involved in romantic relationships and marriages, some with same-sex partners. Several quick kisses and a long-deferred romantic one between two teen characters; there's also some attention to the anatomical awkwardness of male puberty, and numerous references to penises, prostitutes, adultery, promiscuity, couples sneaking off to closets.

Occasional references to dung, piss, turds, anuses.

Adult and teen characters drink wine and other alcohol; mood-altering potions and drugs are part of the healing arts.

Parents need to know that Tempests and Slaughter is the first book in a new series by best-selling author Tamora Pierce, set in her medieval fantasy world of Tortall. Best known for her strong heroines, Pierce builds this story around a male lead character, Arram, who's 10 (and lying about his age) when we first meet him as a student at the Imperial University of Carthak, where he's developing his magical powers and studying the healing arts. There's a lot going on in this page-turner: war, poisoning, slavery, gladiators hacking one another to death, heirs to the throne getting murdered, lots of magic, a couple of gods who take an interest in Arram -- and likable, kindhearted teens dealing with the challenges of puberty and romance. Issues like slavery are heavy and intense, and there's frequent gore and violence in and out of the arena. But there's also a lot of humor, positive messages, and relatable situations in the adventures of these young student mages.