{"product_id":"the-bird-and-the-blade-9780062674166","title":"The Bird and the Blade","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA sweeping and tragic debut novel perfect for fans of \u003cem\u003eThe Wrath and the Dawn\u003c\/em\u003e and Megan Whalen Turner. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis young adult novel is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Bird and the Blade\u003c\/em\u003e is a lush, powerful story of life and death, battles and riddles, lies and secrets from author Megan Bannen. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEnslaved in Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom . . . until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks' exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into an impossible love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJinghua's already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand--and if they fail, they die. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf's kingdom--and his very life--on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she's capable of . . . even if it means losing him to the girl who'd sooner take his life than his heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBannen, Megan:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Megan Bannen is a librarian and the author of\u003cem\u003e The Bird and the Blade\u003c\/em\u003e. In her spare time, she collects graduate degrees from Kansas colleges and universities. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, their two sons, and a few too many pets with literary names. She can be found online at www.meganbannen.com.","brand":"Balzer \u0026 Bray\/Harperteen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50491469594898,"sku":"9780062674166","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_fc999a86-c7f8-4b38-aff1-bbbf659ae84b.jpg?v=1730541614","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-bird-and-the-blade-9780062674166","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}