SCARBEARER

The Griffin Brothers’ novel SCARBEARER immerses readers in a meticulously built fantasy world where “Scarbearers,” people marked by magical scars, struggle to master their volatile gifts and carve out a place in a society that fears them. The book shines in its character work, from Fionna’s patient and often humorous attempts to coax Cendra’s power into flame to the band’s heartfelt debate over whether killing a hellcat that was simply trying to survive was justified, and in the way it portrays the bonds forming among outcasts as they navigate moral complexity and prejudice. Scott and Doug Griffin’s vivid prose, natural dialogue and thoughtful themes of belonging make this opening volume a rewarding read for fans of character-driven fantasy.