Sohrab teaches Darius what friendship is really about: loyalty, honesty, and someone who has your back in a football (soccer) match. But all that changes when Darius meets Sohrab, a Bahá’í boy, in Yazd. When he arrives in Iran, learning to play the Persian card game Rook, socializing, and celebrating Nowruz with a family he had never properly met before is all overwhelming and leaves Darius wondering if he’ll ever truly belong anywhere. He’s mocked for his name and nerdy interests at Chapel Hill High School in Portland, Oregon, and doesn’t speak enough Farsi to communicate with his Iranian relatives either. Iranian on his mother’s side and white American on his father’s side, Darius never quite fits in.

When Darius’ grandfather becomes terminally ill, Darius, along with his parents and younger sister, travels to Iran for the first time in his life.

Page-turning action made even more engrossing by a rare emotional core.ĭarius Kellner suffers from depression, bullying by high school jocks, and a father who seems to always be disappointed in him. A nonbinary character has a larger presence in this book. As before, race is not defined in this European-inflected fantasy world. Readers will jones for the next installment, eager to witness their heroine take on more thrilling adventures. Frey’s journey to self-discovery takes the forefront, and it’s hard-won, thoughtful, and complex. Propelled by intricate worldbuilding and heart-pounding action, there’s never a dull moment. Even so, Frey will do anything to locate her, though she’ll have to confront the fact that maybe she doesn’t know her sister at all, and she certainly doesn’t know herself. But once Frey and Col set out on their mission, it becomes clear that Rafi doesn’t want to be found.

But their father has plans: He’s set his focus on the destruction of the city of Paz, the last place Rafi was seen. Meanwhile, Rafi has taken on the mantle of Frey, working with rebels in the wild who are demanding their father’s punishment. But she’s a prisoner both she and Col wear bomb collars that will explode if they attempt escape. Frey will do anything to find her twin sister as their father works to conquer more unsuspecting cities.Īfter once again assuming the role of her sister, Rafi, Frey toils in her father’s tower, easily fooling him and playing up the drama of her engagement to Col Palafox for the feeds.

Shatter city scott westerfeld