This is a retelling of the Seven Samuari legend set in a war-torn fantasy world where young men and women were used as weapons and called Kindlings. Most were given a pat on the back, if even that once the war ended and cast adrift. Each had a special ability, but paid a steep price because using that ability ate them up slowly until they reached a point where recovery was impossible.
Told in alternating chapters, starting with Leum who wants to find enough money so she can get past civilization and live in the shadow of a remote mountain, this is the story of how a determined girl from a poor village convinces seven Kindlings to band together and protect her village from bandits. Each of the seven are cynical and initially resistant, but once they are rounded up and begin planning their defense including cutting trees to make spears and fortifications, they begin coalescing.
Despite their individual hardness, all seven are very appealing characters. The overall tone of the book is grim and there’s plenty of bloodshed, but that doesn’t prevent it from being one heck of a read. ( )

Thank you HarperCollins for the ARC! ♡