Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
The rebellious son of a long line of pureblood cartographers and diviners, Valen has spent most of his life trying to escape what society—and his family—have ordained for him. His own mother has predicted that he will meet his doom in water, blood, and ice. Her divination seems fulfilled when a comrade abandons Valen in a rainy wilderness half-dead, addicted to an enchantment that converts pain to pleasure, and possessing only a stolen book of maps. Offered sanctuary in a nearby monastery, Valen discovers that his book—rumored to lead men into the realm of angels—gains him entry into a world of secret societies, doomsayers, monks, princes, and madmen, all seeking to unlock the mystery of a coming dark age. To his dismay, Valen must face what he fled so long ago, for the key to Navronne's doom is buried in half-forgotten myth and the secrets of his own past...
Is Flesh and Spirit appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Features a protagonist struggling with addiction (magical pain-to-pleasure enchantment) and themes of prophecy, destiny, and self-discovery. Violence is present but not graphic; no sexual content or strong language.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include substance abuse, addiction, and abandonment.
Who'll love this
Teens will be drawn to Valen's rebellious struggle to escape his predetermined fate and uncover ancient mysteries.