Liyana has spent most of her life preparing to be a vessel for her goddess, but on the day of Summoning, her goddess fails to appear. Instead, her Clan abandons her in the desert, sure that the goddess Bayla has rejected Liyana. Soon after her Clan leaves, Korbyn, the trickster god, comes out of the desert searching for Liyana. He is the only god who successfully inhabited his vessel and is searching out the other vessels to find the lost deities and save the desert clans.
As she journeys with Korbyn and the other vessels, Liyana learns more of her own strength and personal magic. She still wants to save her clan, but is less willing to make the type of sacrifice tradition dictates. Sarah Beth Durst creates beautiful characters and an awe inspiring world, but manages to make their fantastical experiences applicable to our own. Through Liyana, Durst shows the importance of strength, intelligence, love, and sacrifice. She also tells a powerful and unpredictable story of a desert people struggling to survive.
Recommended for ages-14 and up.