Mystic

Mystic by Jason Denzel, 2015 Tor Books

     Generation after generation has competed to become High Mystic and each time the competitors are nobles, until Pomella AnDone is invited to join. Pom has never been trained in the Myst; she has no idea what the silver creatures she, and only she, sees are; she is enjoying the annual summer festival when the Green Man of legend appears and invites her to join the competition for High Mystic.
     The daughter of the local Baron threatens if Pomella does not achieve apprenticeship she will be declared Unnamed - an outcast without status and without name. Pom is terrified, but when her best friend sneaks in Pom's window that night she discovers a significant portion of the town supports her. Thus begins Pom's journey: she leaves for the High Mystic's stronghold, with the help of an old friend, Sim, she escapes the Baron's guard, and finally arrives at Kelt Apar to meet the other potential apprentices.
     When he parts from Pomella, Sim attempts to return home, but so far across the barony Sim is in a position to escape life as  simply a commoner - he could travel to one of the cities and become anything. But Sim's hopes are dimmed by his affections for Pomella, he decides to visit her at Kelt Apar and decide his future from there - he too will be Unnamed if he leaves then returns to the Barony.
     Pomella is thrust into a bickering of politics and attentions when the three nobles discover their compatriot is a commoner. She tries to rise above their expectations and to fight her own self-doubt as the trials progress. Sim is captured on his way by the Black Claw and the Mystic who has hired them on this journey. He fights to stay alive while the band travels deeper into the Mystwood toward what he doesn't know, but it has something to do with Pom.
     Denzel's debut novel is high fantasy at its finest: a magical quest, betrayal, friendships created and destroyed, and a side-line romantic plotline. Pomella AnDone is not a normal teen, yet the most difficult obstacles she faces are internal. Older teen and adult readers will find Mystic fast-paced with unexpected turns as ti follows Pom and Sim through the Mystwood.