Lies can be more deadly when believed than exposed.
Stuck in the capital city of Rin, street kid Doniver survives by faking fortunes for enough loose coin to feed himself and his friends. Then the impossible happens: one of his predictions comes true while the prince is listening in, and the lie becomes a noose.
Dragged into the castle as the new royal 'wind reader, ' Doniver is ordered to use his so-called magic to uncover a traitor and prevent the king's murder. But Doniver isn't magical - he's improvising, and someone is determined to silence him before he exposes the truth.
As danger stalks closer and the lies stack up, Doniver must decide where survival ends and honor begins. Because if he fails, the king will die.
But if he succeeds, he may never make it home to the Uplands.
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Readers who love the layered court intrigue of Megan Whalen Turner, the warm, character-driven worldbuilding of Travis Baldree, and the YA fantasy sweep of Cinda Williams Chima and Kristin Cashore will find a fast-paced story that takes its young characters seriously without sacrificing heart. The Wind Reader is a YA fantasy tale of found family, reluctant heroism, and what honor actually costs when you have nothing else to bargain with. This is book 1 of the Tales of Rinland series and a BBNYA Book Award Semi-Finalist, from the bestselling author of The Wysman.
"An exciting, adventurous, and thoughtful YA fantasy novel... Doniver, a young man from the remote Uplands, finds himself orphaned and alone in the big city. Embroiled in palace intrigue, he has to learn to distinguish friends from enemies, while keeping his honour intact." - Una McCormack, NYT Bestselling Author