The Kingdom of Ganze — Emma Young

All is peaceful in the Kingdom of Ganze. Sir Andrew enjoys life as head knight. King Damin delights that his kingdom is earning more money from their bountiful rice trade. Queen Folia tries on her latest extravagant gown. Outside the castle live two sisters. Olivia is the smartest girl in the kingdom, but her sister Farah gets all the glory for her ideas. As the author, Young, astutely observes, “the credit has and always will be drowned out by the ovation the mass emitted.” Olivia holds the secrets for creating bigger and better harvests. When King Solomon, the king of neighboring Eplaty, mysteriously dies, King Damin sends his best knights to investigate. A strange black mist is released from the king's body when the autopsy is performed. Will Olivia be able to keep the disease from spreading to the kingdom? Told through alternating perspectives, with a careful balance of suspense and humor, Young's debut novel is a highly imaginative work that defies the conventions of the fantasy genre. Just wait until you read about the Microbial Evil Army of Telepathic Sympathies (MEATS).