A wicked thing
Rhiannon Thomas
A wicked thing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Kingdom of ashes
by Rhiannon Thomas
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of pine fills the air as Aurora's heart pounds in her chest. Magic crackles at her fingertips, promising power but demanding a heavy price. Torn between love and loyalty, her journey to save her kingdom is just beginning—and the secrets she uncovers might change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This fantasy novel follows Aurora, a young princess who must master her magical powers while navigating political intrigue and personal sacrifice. Suitable for teens, it explores themes of loyalty, love, and destiny within a richly imagined kingdom. Parents should note the presence of magical violence and emotional tension tied to difficult choices and betrayal.
Why we rated A wicked thing 12ME
A wicked thing is written at a Level 7 reading level across 355 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A wicked thing works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate A wicked thing as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, A wicked thing explores magic, kings and rulers, young adult fiction, romance, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about magic, kings and rulers, young adult fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062303561
- Pages
- 355
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction