Devorah is a seer who dwells in a land that outlawed seers over a decade ago. Every week she drinks the numbing tea and hides her abilities. Now, on the day of her Categorization, the kingdom’s law has changed. Royal officials send Devorah to the Fortress, supposedly to train soldiers for battle and not imprison them, but Devora rejects this as a lie. As the tea wears off and exposes her abilities, Devora must learn how to use her gifts to win a tournament and prove her right to live. V. Romas Burton’s novel Fortified foresees an epic fantasy series with fast paces across lush landscapes of characters, crafting a unique fantasy world that pulls elements from Old Testament heroes. Fortified builds well to its solid finale, leading into further books in The Legacy Chapters series trilogy.

Best for: Older teen and young adult fans of epic fantasy with found family, political intrigue, and extremely slow-burn romance.

Discern: Several mildly described scenes of violence in military setting, one chaste kiss, allusions to attempted sexual assault.