For a Muse of Fire

“Be prepared to stay up late with this one.”—NPR.org

“[A] must-have story.”—School Library Journal (starred review)

“Evocative and refreshingly unique.”—Tor

A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. The first book in acclaimed author Heidi Heilig’s Shadow Players trilogy blends traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning tale of escape and rebellion. For a Muse of Fire will captivate fans of Sabaa Tahir, Leigh Bardugo, and Renée Ahdieh.

Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick—a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But ever since the colonizing army conquered their country, the old ways are forbidden. Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.

Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures and French colonialism. Told from Jetta’s first-person point-of-view, as well as chapters written as play scripts and ephemera such as telegrams and letters, For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.

One girl’s dangerous magic is the only thing standing between a colonial army and a people’s rebellion.

• A Heroine with Dangerous Power: Jetta binds the souls of the dead to her shadow puppets, a forbidden art that could get her executed—or make her the most powerful player in a brewing war.
• Colonialism and Rebellion: In a nation inspired by Southeast Asian history and myth, a merciless colonial army battles the shadowy rebel leader known only as the Tiger. Jetta is caught in the crossfire.
• A Slow Burn Romance: She needs a way out. He’s a smuggler with a hidden agenda. When Jetta meets the charismatic Leo, their alliance is as dangerous as the secrets they both keep.
• Unique Storytelling Format: Told not only in prose, but through play scripts, letters, and telegrams, this immersive fantasy plunges you directly into a world of magic and intrigue.