Books like Chasing the valley by Skye Melki-Wegner

Danika Glynn, a survivor of a fatal magical attack on her city, must escape the tyrannical king’s forces after the cruel ruler launches a retaliation that destroys her home. With the kingdom’s safety threatened, Danika joins a rag‑tag crew of refugees on a perilous journey toward the fabled Magnetic Valley, a rumored refuge untouched by the kingdom’s law and the king’s cruelty. As she navigates the dangers of the wilderness, she discovers that her own latent magical abilities are growing, placing her under all the king’s hunters’ focus. Alongside her newfound love interest, Lukas, Danika must balance her growing strengths with the safety of her companions and face betrayal from allies she trusted. The story blends survivalist suspense with the camaraderie typical of young‑adult adventure tales, set against a richly imagined fantasy landscape ruled by an oppressive monarchy where magic can be both a tool and a threat.

First publish date: 2013