Wildings by Eleanor Glewwe (review)

The politics are complicated in this fantasy world where there are strict and enforced divides between the kasir (magical) and halan (non-magical) populations. Rivka is part of the powerful kasir class, and she gives little thought to the inequity of the division until her own twin brother is found to have no magic and is sent off, as is the custom, to a halan family to live. She refuses her father’s order that she forget she ever had a brother, waiting years until she has the chance to subvert the government and societal structures and risk her own safety (though not as much as the halan who help her do, a fact that never quite sinks into her well-intentioned but deeply privileged worldview) to get him back. Rivka’s not always easy to like but she is easy to respect, and her fierce, unwavering determination to get her twin back is inspiring. A key and highly memorable character from an earlier novel, Sparkers, and a shared setting will make return readers feel right at home, but this novel also works as a standalone outing.