Winner of the Kirkus Book Reviews 'Get it!' award, First Place winner of the American Writing Awards and the Children's Books International Award, and more!

Fans of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Matilda will enjoy this innovative mythological fantasy!

After centuries of banishment, the fallen chess lords sense a portal opening between their exiled Earth and the kingdom of Chess Mountain, where they once held dominion-and they're ready to take vengeance on the gods who expelled them.

On a critical quest to save the kingdom of Chess Mountain, young Princess Kassie-daughter of Mars and the chess goddess Caissa-finds herself in the heart of a bustling New York City school. Though deeply moved by the unexpected common ground she shares with humankind, Kassie must stay focused. The disgraced chess nobles lie in wait, eager to reclaim what they lost, while she navigates a world where new friendships threaten to complicate her mission. As she forges meaningful bonds with her classmates and teachers, unsettling clues about nearby potential enemies begin to surface, causing her to question those she has come to trust.

With the fate of both her kingdom and Earth at stake, Kassie grapples with loyalty and betrayal, ultimately leading her to a heart-wrenching confrontation that demands a terrible choice.

This award-winning, 210-page mythological fantasy intricately weaves existing ancient chess mythology into a modern adventure that appeals to elementary and middle-grade readers and beyond. The novel concludes with a concise, well-known non-fiction essay by Benjamin Franklin that explores the relevant and meaningful morals of chess.