The Girl with the Fierce Eyes

Written by Sophia Vahdati

Narrated by Freddy Carter, Precious Mustapha and Roshaan Riyahi-Boni

'Full of magic, love triangles, political intrigue, betrayaI… I devoured this novel' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Red Queen meets Divergent in this fast-paced YA fantasy romance debut—packed with love triangles, betrayal, and a heroine who must risk everything to survive.

Your eyes decide your destiny

Jantsia’s secret will kill her…

In the Empire of Shariza, eye colour determines wealth, status and even access to magical powers. Jantsia's blue eyes mark her as Azure, the lowest of the four oculary castes. Destined for servitude.

But no one – not even the boy who owns her heart – knows the truth. Jantsia is a dual-oc, a forbidden mix of two castes, condemned to death if discovered. To survive, she clings to one rule: stay invisible, stay alive.

Or will the truth save them all?

Yet whispers of rebellion are growing, and cracks are forming in the very foundations of their society. Could it be that the fiery untapped power burning inside Jantsia is a gift rather than a curse?

But who to trust when different means death?

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The Girl with the Fierce Eyes has some potential content warnings, including sexual grooming (past), sibling/infant death (past), racism and discrimination, threatened torture and death, and characters in peril. Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.

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Readers LOVE The Girl with the Fierce Eyes ?

'Explosive world-building, gripping characters, and razor-sharp stakes – this dystopian gem is an unforgettable blend of tension and heart' Morgan Shamy, best-selling author of The Stricken

'The Girl with the Fierce Eyes stamps a blazing mark with its thrilling pace, fascinating magic system, and powerful exploration of self-discovery. Vahdati's richly imagined debut is a book as fierce as its title.' Kiera Azar, author of Thorn Season

'The Girl With the Fierce Eyes shines with a richly-imagined world, gritty settings, and characters who leap off the page. This fantasy tackles issues that are sharply relevant to our world today. Sophia Vahdati is an author to watch!’ Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest King's Daughter

'Brilliantly imagined and full of life, […] a wonderful read.’ Helen Glynn Jones, author of The Last Raven

‘An emotional story about belonging, rebellion, and identity contrasted by deception, secrets, and lies.’ K. N. Milde, author of Those Who Survive

'Wow wow wow, this book was INCREDIBLE. I already know this is going to be one of my top reads of the year and it's only June.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wow. The ending. That did surprise me. I do hope there is more to come.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

’The magic and caste system was fantastic. The idea that your place in the hierarchy is dependent on your eye colour and corresponding power was so well done.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Immersive, empowering, and insightful.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This was a really well built world with hover bikes, a criminal underworld and a rebellion. The perfect introduction to the dystopian genre for teens and a great fun read for everyone else.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This debut YA romantasy was well written and and the romance was sweet.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

’This is a great YA book, packed with action, wholesome youngsters and a very distinct magic system.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

’Sophia Vahdati did an amazing job creating a world that has magic, political intrigue and betrayal. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 2!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Jul 17, 2025
• ISBN: 9780008743864

Reviews for The Girl with the Fierce Eyes

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

DCI Field (or 'Field' as she is referred to throughout, since she hates her first name - which is Elizabeth) investigates the stabbing of David Moore, a well-respected psychologist. Then one of his former patients is also stabbed and is discovered by another second former patient.

I found the first chapters a little slow, but after that things picked up and I read the whole book in one sitting. David's speciality is the misdiagnosis of OCD in children and I thought this aspect was really interesting. I learnt a lot. The narrative moves at a good pace and the ending was excellent.

Recommended.