The Hush

Playing his fiddle on the road, Chester travels from town to town in search of his missing father. One night when he’s playing, he accidentally plays Music–magic that fuels the world and is illegal for anyone who’s not a Songshaper–and then is arrested and sentenced to death. When he’s saved by Sam, he’s brought to the Nightfall Gang, who needs his help with an elaborate plan. The Captain, Susannah, promises Chester answers about his father’s disappearance but doesn’t tell him that this chance at revenge could result in Chester’s death.

The characters are richly developed, lost souls connected through a need for revenge against the Songshapers. In some ways, Chester is still naive, but he fits into the ragtag team of thieves with ease. Susannah is the tough and caring leader, Travis is a con with a love of finer things, Dot is a bubbly and eccentric inventor, and Sam is the cynical one who does the dirty work. Their personalities play off each other with charm, humor, and snarky bickering. Spectacular and breathtaking, The Hush is a coming-of-age story with revenge and friendship where Music is magic, beautiful, and dangerous.