Description: Art is magic. Art is a curse.
Briar can curse with the flick of a paintbrush. Her paintings maim, bewitch, and--most effectively of all--destroy. But Briar doesn't want to hurt people anymore. She has fled her family's deadly curse business to start a new life peddling nonlethal jinxes and petty revenge. Briar's destructive powers catch the eye of a charismatic young outlaw called Archer, who hires her to help him save a kidnapped friend from a ruthless baron. Briar thinks this is her chance to make amends for her crimes, but the family business won't let her go so easily. When her violent past jeopardizes Archer's rescue mission, Briar must confront the dark arts she left behind--and decide what she's willing to destroy in order to be good.Brief description: Jordan Rivet is the author of the postapocalyptic Seabound Chronicles and the Steel and Fire fantasy adventure series. Originally from Arizona, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband.
Review Quotes:
"Young portrays Archer as a dashing ne'er-do-well who charms his way out of trouble with a lot of help from his friends. Among his gang of outlaws is a mage who speaks in a tone of voice that makes clear his disapproval of everyone. Young also makes clear the antagonism of an older woman, the brains of the gang, who is very protective of Archer and suspicious of Briar."
--AudioFile "AudioFile"