From Newbery Honor and Walter Award–winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent’s Secret and The Last Mapmaker.

Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.

Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.

This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona’s quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right. 

Sona’s journey will test her loyalties and her courage in a world where every note of music holds power.

• Forbidden Magic: In a land where music is illegal, Sona’s ability to hear the songs of animals is a dangerous secret that could get her killed.
• Saving a Sacred Beast: When Sona finds an orphaned wolf pup with golden ears, she vows to protect one of Devia’s last magical creatures from the empire that wants it dead.
• An Unlikely Alliance: To save a loved one, Sona must team up with a boy from the very people her class has oppressed, embarking on a dangerous journey to find the nectar of life.
• Uncovering the Truth: As Sona travels across Devia, she begins to question everything she knows about her family, her empire, and her own hidden past.