Parents' Guide to The Heart of the World: The Isles of the Gods, Book 2

This brink-of-war faceoff between two newly roused gods is emotionally gripping thanks to the story's five main human narrators: Prince Leander, Selly, Keegan, Jude, and Laskia. Two of those narrators, Leander and Laskia, are both Messengers of the gods and both in stark contrast to each other. Leander's bond with Selly as his anchor is touching. She eases the incredible burden of this potent magic and even puts up with the nightmare of palace etiquette, just for him. Laskia's bond to Ruby, conversely, is a forced one and reflects the wreck that the sisters' relationship has become. Jude's story is the real heart-wringer, though. He loses is mother and gives up his only happiness to help a friend he's wronged. At first it's hard to tell why he's in the story—is it just to depress us? Usually these hard-luck characters die off in a tragic hurry. But his role is essential and during the climatic action he's responsible for the most poignant moment in the entire book—sorry lovebirds Leander and Selly.

The gods in The Heart of the World are untouchable, powerful, and not terribly nice so it's hard to see why religions sprouted up around them. This isn't explained satisfactorily. Still, the way Barrica and Macean prod their subjects and convince them that war is the only way forward feels hypnotic to the reader, too. War seems inevitable. Author Amie Kaufman must have drawn on her degree in conflict resolution and dreamt up the absolute worst-case scenario when she brought her opposing countries to the bargaining table. Their political squabbling feels far too real and a bloodbath seems imminent. The only hope for peace lies where you'd expect: in the hands of Kaufman's extraordinary main characters.