Raybearer - Jordan Ifueko Page 0,140

from the Arit empire. Known for its enchanted sowanhada warriors and Redemptors, and home to Woo In, the notorious “Traitor Prince” and son of Queen Hye Sun.

sowanhada (soo-AHN-ah-da): A powerful language unique to Songland that permits the user to control various elements.

Sparti (SPAR-tee): A southern coastal realm in the Arit empire, known for its fishing industry, sculptures, and musician-poets. Home realm of Theo, a member of Dayo’s council.

sprite: A small, capricious spirit that inhabits fertile fields and forests. Often found in swarms and poached for use as a light source.

Swana (SWAHN-nah): One of four central realms in the Arit empire, known for its supernaturally fertile crops and powerful alagbato, Melu. Predominantly home to People of the Clay. Home realm of Tarisai, a member of Dayo’s council.

wrapper: A long woven garment, often intricately dyed or embroidered, that wraps several times beneath the arms.

Yorua Keep: A coastal, highly guarded fortress in Oluwan that houses the Prince’s Council.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The paradox of writing a book is that most of the work is done in isolation, but none of it would be possible without an army supporting you every step of the way. My army fought for this book for over twelve years.

Thanks to Kim-Mei, my wonderful agent, who took a chance on an unknown writer, and then proceeded to advocate for this book with tenacity and conscientiousness like I had never seen.

Thanks to Maggie, my brilliant editor, who worked on this book with such genuine enthusiasm that every critique felt like a gift.

Thanks to Shasta Clinch, my copyeditor, who has an eye for detail that would definitely qualify as a Hallow, and who navigated the rules of my universe better than I ever could.

Thanks to Brooke Shearouse, who I’m half convinced is Supergirl and using her job as an extremely competent publicist as a cover. Thanks to the rest of the publicity, marketing, and editing team at Abrams for their brilliant hard work.

Thanks to Charles Chaisson for his breathtaking artwork, and to Hana Nakamura for her thoughtful and inspired book design.

Thanks to Mom, who kept her daughter well supplied in books and trips to the library. Thanks to Dad, who bought me my first hardcover journal for my tenth birthday, and who was perhaps the first person to take a dramatic little girl seriously as a writer. Thanks to Miss Viv and Pop Herman, for their heartfelt encouragement, and to Mom Herman, for her boundless advocacy and enthusiasm. Thanks to Josh, for his excitement about this book taking off, and to Rachael-bug, who probably is the soul and spirit behind every spunky, resilient, and kind-hearted teen heroine I ever write.

Thanks to Auntie Lisa, Uncle Femi, and Auntie Monica, for being the most tireless, relentless cheerleaders I have ever had—at every stage of my life. Every one. Few people have the benefit of love and support that is utterly without conditions, and I’m privileged to find myself so lucky.

Thanks to Auntie Kemi, who found the time to give thoughtful feedback for every single chapter of my first novel when I was fifteen.

Thanks to Grandma, who was the first to discuss one of my stories as if it were a piece of literature (which made my head grow three sizes as a teenager). Thanks to Grandpa, who never tuned out his story-spinning granddaughter when she chattered for hours on end.

Thanks to Auntie Ifueko and Auntie Tonia, who refreshed my love for the cultures in which my ancestors were raised.

Thanks to Tia, my therapist, who helped silence my anxiety monster with weapons of compassion and common sense.

Thanks to Bettyann Henderson, my high school creative writing tutor, who wouldn’t let me be content with being a pretentious know-it-all and made me strive to improve.

Thanks to Strange Horizons, which was the first publication to expose my voice to a broader audience.

Thanks to Kathryn Woods, Rebecca Seidler, Bethany Garber, and Jaiden Cox, the most splendid band of beta readers a writer could ask for.

Thanks to Tara Newby, my real-life Kirah, the anchor in my storms, who championed this book since its infancy in the margins of my tenth-grade humanities homework.

Thanks to my husband, David, my real-life YA romantic hero and dearest friend in this whole wide world. Without your clear-eyed sanity, life-giving humor, and fathomless devotion, this process could never have been completed. I love you more than a thousand griot songs could ever say.

And thanks to God, my personal Storyteller, who quieted the storms, and never let me stop reaching for the sunshine.

Thank you for choosing a Hot Key book.

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First published in Great Britain in 2020 by

HOT KEY BOOKS

80–81 Wimpole St, London W1G 9RE

www.hotkeybooks.com

Text copyright © Jordan Ifueko, 2020

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The right of Jordan Ifueko to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-4714-0928-8

Also available as an audiobook

Hot Key Books is an imprint of Bonnier Books UK

www.bonnierbooks.co.uk