City of bastards
Andrew Shvarts
City of bastards
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
traitor in a foreign land
by Andrew Shvarts
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 clang of metal echoes through Lightspire’s dazzling streets, mingling with the scent of burning spices and secret whispers. Tilla, caught between luxury and shadows, feels the cold weight of her brother’s memory and the heat of danger lurking nearby. Every step she takes could shatter the fragile peace — but some truths are worth the fire they ignite.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a richly imagined magical city, this young adult novel explores themes of identity, loyalty, and political intrigue. The protagonist, Tilla, deals with complex family dynamics and uncovers dangerous conspiracies while navigating friendships and romance. Suitable for teens, the story includes elements of violence, suspense, and mature themes related to war and betrayal.
Why we rated City of bastards 12ME
City of bastards is written at a Level 7 reading level across 377 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, City of bastards works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate City of bastards 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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Conspiracy, Political Intrigue.
Thematically, City of bastards explores magic, young adult fiction, revolutions, conspiracies, and friendship — 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, young adult fiction, revolutions.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! 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.
Content Flags
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
- 9781484767634
- Pages
- 377
- Publisher
- Disney-Hyperion
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction