I don't remember the title of this young adult fantasy novel. (Solved)

nuka

It was about these slave people who were made to dig up this magical coal like stuff. They were taken over by people that used that magical coal stuff as fuel and kept the slaves in line by branding their foreheads. The heroine of the novel who is a slave ends up as the chosen one and frees her people and generally kicks butt. I can't remember much more than that because it's been so long.

EDIT: I asked elsewhere and it was solved, it's http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Fire-Point-Sherryl-Jordan/dp/0590452894

Jinka

That sounds vaguely like The Healer's Keep by Victoria Hanley.

nuka

No, I don't think that's it. The heroine is pretty removed from royalty if I remember, most of her companions are fellow slaves. There was one guy who had a branding accident that left his face scarred. Oh I don't think the slaves could pick their own spouses? I remember something else too, the ruling culture reminded me a lot of the Roman Empire, though it wasn't an exact copy. I think the heroine's pivotal moment was when she was tending the crops the slaves kept for themselves to eat.

EDIT: Oh uh, the land was described as barren and dark, it made me think of a land after a vicious firestorm. After the heroine wins the day, stuff begins to grow again? Or is implied at least.

Wulf

Ah nevermind, I'm wrong

Enc

Setting and characters remind me of the Final Empire series by Brian Sanderson.

nuka

They didn't eat the coal stuff, it was just a fuel source and it wasn't a series, or if it was then I wasn't aware/don't remember.

TeaSpoon

Is it Jack Chalker's Flux & Anchor series?

nuka

No, it's not it, and it's not a series.