Finding Angel by Kat Heckenbach

291 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Wizard

Angel’s past is a blank slate, her memories buried deep within her. She longs for her real parents and to find out what happened to take them away. Her foster family is very kind and caring but Angel knows she belongs elsewhere, she’s different. Immersed in her drawings of fantasy creatures, Angel lives the life of any ordinary teenager while looking after her younger foster brother, Zack. That is, until she meets an odd boy, Gregor, with a foreign accent in the library. She and Gregor have an intense and unexplainable connection similar to the tingly feelings she occasionally gets when near trees. One night Gregor saves her life with his Gatemaking magical talent and takes her to his world, the Island of Toch, which is incidentally Angel’s homeland as well. Soon Gregor helps her to learn magic and access her Finding talent. Even with the island’s protective magic, evil lurks in the woods, an evil that desperately wants Angel’s power. Kat has created a wonderfully imaginative one of a kind world in which fantasy fans will revel. The descriptions of the forest and its flora are delightfully rich and detailed. There are trees, such as the Silver Spruce and the Bronze Oak which are named after the metals or alloys they contain that serve as conduits for their magical power and protection – how cool is that? There’s also tamed and wild dragons of all sizes, an Elven musical rock band and an ancient prophecy not to mention the man using science to regain his own lost power by stealing Angel’s. There’s lots of suspense and a nice blend of magic and science. Readers will be anxious for the next installment in this new fantasy series. (This book provided for review by the author, Kat Heckenbach).

 

Fyre by Angie Sage

Illustrated by Mark Zug
Target audience: Ages 8 to 12
Rating: Dragon

Sage wraps up the “Septimus Heap” series with the mastery of a true storyteller. She weaves all the threads of the six previous volumes together into a magnificent tapestry. Nearly all the characters are reunited in the final attempt to vanish the Darke forever. Marcellus Pye is busy deep beneath the castle intent on Awakening the Fyre which can be unpredictable and difficult to control. It is the only known substance powerful enough  to DeNature the Two-Faced Ring which holds the essence of the two most dangerous and powerful Darke Wizards. Over five hundred years ago the first Extraordinary Wizard, Hotep-Ra, trapped them in the ring and it is now Sealed inside the Wizard Tower.  Marcia suspects Marcellus is up to more than rebuilding the Alchemie Tower and Alchemie Way, so she assigns Septimus to him for one month. Septimus is torn between his desire to learn more about Alchemie and his love for his work at the Wizard Tower. Jenna is crowned queen and is determined to save the Dragon Boat, whose heartbeat she can no longer hear. Will the past come back to haunt them and pull them back into the Darke Domaine or will our Magykal troupe save the kingdom once again? Fans of this series will not be disappointed and get exactly what they expect from this gifted writer – swamp snakes, magical bowls, flying dragons, secret chambers, ghostly encounters, Fyre creatures, Djinn transformations, royal coronations, maps, humor, fabulous illustrations and much much more. We can only hope that Sage will continue to entertain us with more fantasy. It would be advisable to read this series in order. (This book provided for review by HarperCollins).

 

Falcon in the Glass by Susan Fletcher

302 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Wizard

In the late fifteenth century on the island of Murano, Italy, Renzo longs to be a glassmaker like his father before him. When his father is murdered, Renzo’s only option is to work as a drudge in his uncle’s studio until he can prove his glassmaking skills enough to pass a test in just two weeks. If he fails not only are his dreams shattered but along with it any hope of supporting his mother and sister. He spends every night at the glassworks practicing but he cannot do it alone. One night he meets a young girl, Letta, and her falcon. she belongs to a group of children persecuted as witches by the Doge for their uncanny bond with birds. In exchange for food and shelter he convinces Letta to stay at the glassworks each night and help him prepare for his test. Before he knows it he’s got the whole lot of bird children hiding in the studio. Renzo must juggle between his glassblowing practice, keeping the Padrone happy, protecting his new secret family from the authorities, supporting his own family and the threat of a possible assassin. Faced with these seemingly impossible odds, Renzo turns to the glass he loves and with the children’s help creates something extraordinary. But will it be enough to save them all? The author uses her unique compassion and understanding of human-animal connections to create a realistic, heartwarming, gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, mystery and loyalty. The details of Venetian life and Murano glassmaking are vivid and flow naturally throughout the storyline. Recommend to fans of “The Glass Swallow” by Julia Golding. (This book was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster).

 

Darwen  Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck by A. J. Hartley

441 pgs.

Target Audience: Middle Reader

Rating: Griffin

 

To Darwen Arkwright it seems like forever since he and his friends, Rich and Alexandra, formed the Peregrine Pact to protect their school from monsters. Darwen is a mirroculist, someone who can travel through mirrors into the strange world of Silbrica. Mr. Peregrine, a local shopkeeper, introduced Darwen to his powers and is one of the gatekeepers of Silbrica. When Mr. Peregrine shows up at their school as the new world studies teacher, the children know something’s up. Darwen ventures alone into Silbrica one night and sees a young boy pulled through a mysterious portal by an enormous tentacled beast. The next thing he knows their world studies class is taking a field trip to Costa Rica. Of course this is just a ruse to cover up their new mission to find and close the breaches in the barrier between Earth and Silbrica which the octopus-like Insidious Bleck is using to take children. Once in Costa Rica the kids uncover a much more sinister plot to destroy the rainforest and the world. Although the constant bickering between the three friends does become tiresome, it is still a great adventure story told in a fast pace narrative. There is enough backstory provided for those who haven’t read the first book, “Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact.” The author touches on many subjects including environment, land development, archaeology, history, Costa Rican life, betrayal, loyalty, and friendship. Each chapter is headed by clever black and white illustrations. Recommend to fans of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” by Trenton Lee Stewart. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

 

 

 

Spiral by Roderick Gordon

437 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Wizard

 This fifth installment in the thrilling “Tunnels” series finds our intrepid heroes, Will and Chester, hiding out at Parry’s estate while undergoing intense training exercises. The Styx have begun implanting bombs inside random people set to detonate during major events so as to have maximum deadly effect. This paves the way for the Rebecca twins to implement the conversion Phase of impregnating humans with eggs which will eventually consume their hosts. Drake is gathering all his old friends with special abilities in a last ditch effort to thwart the evil Styx. One such rebel, Professor Danforth, has invented a machine that can purge Styx programming from the brain. But is this small group enough to save humanity or will everything spiral out of control? As with previous books in this series, the action is relentless from disaster to narrow escapes to betrayal to deadly battles to faceless monsters, and back to disaster upon disaster, all the way to the cliffhanger ending, it never lets the reader rest. It is wise to read these books in order due to the tremendous detail of the world the author has created. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

The Maelstrom by Henry H. Neff (Books of Tapestry, Book 4)

468 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Wizard

Astaroth is weakened and the demon Prusias seizes this golden opportunity to build his empire by attacking everyone else with his workshop powered war machines of course. Max returns to a hero’s welcome at Rowan. The celebration is cut short due to the threat of Prusias and the discovery that Max’s name is at the top of an assassin guild’s list. Max and his sorcerer friend, David, must once again work together to fight the famed workshop and stop Prusias’ invasion, while simultaneously dodging assassination attempts. Cooper, an old comrad, now possessed by a demon is sent as an assassin. Scathach returns to Rowan as Max’s bodyguard. This series is a marvelous blend of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery. The characters are endearing and well developed. Fantastic battles, cool spy-like inventions, fierce friendships and great illustrations await the eager reader. It is necessary however to read them in order to fully enjoy the experience because the overall plot of the series is intricate and complex. There is also a glossary at the end of this volume.

 

The throne of glass  by Sarah J. Maas

406 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most notorious assassin. Why has she been retrieved from the slave mines of Endovier and brought to the king’s castle? She has been chosen to compete against other worthy opponents in a series of tests to become the king’s own champion. Victory ensures her freedom after serving four years as champion. The task seems simple enough to someone whose skills are that of legend. For this reason she is made to enter the competition under an assumed name so her opponents will only see a common female thief. The Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall, oversees her training while Prince Dorian has his own motives for supporting her. As the tests begin, an evil magic stirs in the castle and one by one the competitors are found brutally killed. What once started as a means to secure her freedom, now has become a race to find the culprit behind the attacks and avoid becoming it’s next victim. Celaena struggles with her growing feelings for her handsome trainer and Prince Dorian’s romantic overtures. This is a fabulous first entry in a compelling new fantasy series. It has mystery, suspense, adventure, magic and romance. What more could you ask for?

 

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

410 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Elisa, the newly appointed queen of Joya D’Arena, struggles to maintain her power. Despite her recent victory over an army of the Invierne sorcerers, her authority is met with resistance from Lord Conde Eduardo and Lord General Luz-Manuel who have been the ruling power for decades and who are not willing to give it up. They view her as too young and inexperienced and thwart her decisions at every turn. Her only recourse is to marry and the Quorum members eagerly put forth their favorite candidates. But Elisa, whose heart still belongs to Lord Hector, balks at taking any of them as a prince consort. Multiple assassination attempts by the Animagi force Elisa to harness the power of her Godstone and fulfill her destiny. In order to  accomplish this, the young queen, Lord Hector and her nurse Ximena  lead a small party south on a secret quest to find the mythical source of her power. They travel through tunnels, catacombs, over a dangerous sea, up treacherous mountains following cryptic clues and paths. Faith, love, loyalty, betrayal and a healthy dose of adventure complete this stunning sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The dramatic ending leaves the future of Elisa and Hector’s love and the fate of Joya D’Arena hanging in the balance. There is enough detail for  first time readers to enjoy it, but be assured they will then rush back to read the first one.

 The Golden door by Emily Rodda
264 ps.
Target audience: Ages 8 to 12
Rating: Wizard

The city of Weld is surrounded by an enormous wall that protects its citizens from the dangers outside. It is here that Rye lives with his mother and two older brothers, Dirk and Sholto. Now their safety is endangered when the flying creatures known as Skimmers begin their nightly attacks. The Warden of Weld issues a summons for volunteers over the age of seventeen to leave Weld on a quest to find and destroy whoever is responsible for the Skimmer invasion. The reward is marriage to the Warden’s spoiled daughter. Rye is not old enough but Dirk and Sholto sign up and never return. When Rye’s mistake brings a Skimmer attack on his home and crops, he and his mother move to the castle for protection. Convinced his brothers are still alive, Rye lies his way into the Chamber of magical Doors, picks the Golden door and leaves the city walls. Accompanied by an escaped orphan, Sonia, Rye ventures into the perilous unknown.  Will Rye ever find his brothers again? What if he went through the wrong door? And if he does find them, what will they have to do to stop the Skimmers? From the author of the Deltora series, comes a fantastic new trilogy full of magic, monsters and mayhem. Rye and his brothers are drawn with unique personality traits endowing the cast of characters with a more complex and realistic tone. Rye, unlike a more traditional hero, is motivated by finding his brothers and reuniting his beloved family rather than winning the prize at the end. The adventures are well-plotted and set the stage for the next exciting installment.

(Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

 

Keeper of the lost cities by Shannon Messenger

488 pgs.
Target audience: 8 to 12
Rating: Wizard

Sophie’s secret telepathic ability sets her apart from everyone. To keep the constant nagging voices away, she becomes a loner. On a school field trip to a museum, she meets a young boy who claims he can also hear thoughts. To prove his authenticity, Fitz transports Sophie to the Eternalia in the Land of Lumenaria where the elves live. Sophie learns that she is in fact an elf and must leave her human family forever. She’d always been an outsider, so finding out she’s not human makes a small bit of sense even though it pains her to say goodbye to that life. She is taken in by a couple who run a sanctuary for mythical creatures. Although she does make friends at her new school, there are those who oppose her return. Reading thoughts are not Sophie’s only powers, she is able to send thoughts as well. The gaps in her memory hold valuable secrets, information that others would kill for. Sophie is a simple yet likeable character, whose eagerness to harness her new powers and unveil the secrets in her mind make her a target. Dex, her best friend, is loyal and true, but there are many whom she shouldn’t trust. This a fast paced, well plotted fantasy debut with hints of a sequel.

Ancient, strange, and lovely by Susan Fletcher

315 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 8-12
Rating: Dragon

As long as Bryn can remember the members of her family have possessed the unique talent of kenning or communicating with birds. Each child receives a bird at the age of five, Bryn’s is a cockatiel named Stella. After Bryn’s biologist mother disappears while on a research mission in Alaska, her father leaves Bryn and her younger sister with their Aunt Penn while he goes off to find out what happened. Late one night a mysterious thumping noise coming from the basement sends Bryn and Stella exploring through boxes of research material sent from Alaska. Amongst them she finds an egg, a very large egg which produces a faint thrumming noise. This egg is connected to her mom and is perhaps why she suddenly vanished and must be kept secret from Aunt Penn, so Bryn confides in the only person she can trust, her mom’s lab assistant, Taj. When word gets out to the wrong people about this egg and what the creature might be, things spiral quickly out of control putting Bryn and her critter in terrible danger. She must get to Alaska and find her mom or someone who will help to protect the critter. Her schoolmate, Sasha, agrees to drive her up to a ferry in Washington. Because of her ability to ken with birds, Bryn and her baby dragon form a strong bond. This stand alone title in the “Dragon Chronicles” series written more than ten years after “The sign of the dove,” proves that the author is a true master of the dragon tale. Bryn is a brave, genuine, modern heroine, one whom young readers will love. The baby dragon is a character as real as any person and will tug at the heart strings. It is a wild ride which will have readers on the edge of their seats. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit  - www.childrenslit.com)

 

The Call of Eirian by C. Aubrey Hall

311 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Fairy

 In the second installment of “The Faelin Chronicles,” Cynthe and Diello make their way to their mother’s homeland, the realm of the Embarthi. Here they will seek refuge with their uncle, deliver the dangerous and powerful sword, Eirian, and rescue their kidnapped sister, Amalina. Dogged at every step by goblin attacks, the small group finally arrives in Embarthi to an unenthusiastic welcome. This is in part due to their mother’s betrayal to the royal crown and birthright. Could their journey have led them to a place no safer than the Antrasian realm of their childhood? Their family reunion takes a back seat to the intrigues of the royal court. More than half of the book recounts their journey to Embarthi which is cluttered with chatty and superfluous dialogue drowning the author’s attempt at character development. By the time the pace picks up, many readers will have lost interest. The cast of characters and map do serve as helpful storyline tools. For a more suitable choice in a quest  fantasy, recommend “The Great Tree of Avalon” series by T. A. Barron.
(Book provided for review by Children's Lit  - www.childrenslit.com)
 

Slayers by C. J. Hill

373 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

The dragon invasion is coming and mankind’s only protection are the slayers, kids who are descendants of dragon lords and have special dragon fighting powers. The daughter of a state senator, Tori, is spoiled, smart and determined to attend a dragon camp. Ever since she could remember she’s had a sense that dragons are real and can’t wait to be with other kids who feel the same way. However St. George’s Dragon Camp is not the modern camp she was expecting, instead she’ll be living it rough and working hard. The camp is divided into two teams led by their captains – the sullen, moody and darkly handsome Dirk and the charming, popular, and gorgeous Jess. While there are classes on dragon lore, lessons in archery and horse riding, other activities are shrouded in mystery. As it turns out Dr. B., the camp director, runs the camp as a training ground for future dragon slayers. Tori’s special power is slow to manifest but when it does it reveals the secret location of the dragon eggs. Their task is to destroy the eggs before the evil dragonlord, Overdrake, uses them to destroy the world. The majority of the story revolves around the slayer training and picks up with a bang toward the end where all their battle training is put to the test. The fight scenes are thrilling and believable. The romance is sweet and not overpowering as Tori gets caught up in a love triangle between Dirk and Jess. The dragons are vicious and cunning and sure to appeal to a wide teen audience.

(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Starling by Lesley Livingston

341 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

Dedication to the fine art of fencing takes on a whole new meaning for Mason Starling during a team practice in the gym of the elite Gosford Academy. A severe thunderstorm erupts in the quad causing an ancient tree to crash through the ceiling ushering in a horde of unearthly zombie-like creatures. Mason and her teammates owe their survival to a mysterious, extremely handsome and naked guy who materializes out of the rubble to battle the demons. Their rescuer who remembers nothing but his own name, Fennrys, heals the injured, magics them all to sleep and then vanishes. Mason finds herself inexplicably drawn to Fennrys and he to her. Soon they are spending as much time together as possible in order to make sense of the strange events occurring around them and to retrieve Fenn’s lost memories. The Starling clan headed by Gunnar Starling has ties to the ancient Norse Gods. The family’s greed and ambition release a dark and deadly dangerous prophecy that puts Mason’s life in jeopardy. Mason and Fenn are a great paranormal team – equal parts romance and action. There is a fair amount of foundation building  with a cliffhanger ending.  The youngest of Mason’s three brothers, Rory, is an easy to hate villain paired nicely with the charming and protective oldest brother, Roth. There’s no shortage of sword fighting with new and ancient weaponry and a truly hair-raising train ride. This fantasy debut is perfect for fans of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Advance Reader's Copy - to be published Feb 2013)

452 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon

Get ready for a full-blast, futuristic roller coaster ride of fairytale fun in this spectacular sequel to Cinder. Scarlet lives and works with her grandmother on a farm in the small rural French town of Rieux. Her grandmother has gone missing and disgusted with the lack of success by the police in finding her, Scarlet sets out on her own to find out what happened. When a strange, charming and very handsome man named Wolf claims he can help her, Scarlet cautiously agrees. Meanwhile cyborg and missing Lunar princess, Cinder, escapes from the castle prison and with the unexpected help of another prisoner manages to elude capture on a stolen military ship. The worlds of Cinder an Scarlet collide when Cinder tracks down the woman who rescued her from Queen Levana when she was a child and by saving her life made her into a cyborg. Lunar Queen Levana raises the stakes in her war against the commonwealth by creating an army of human-wolf hybrids. The action is non-stop propelling the reader through the book at lightning speed. The new characters are integrated smoothly into the familiar structure emerging from the pages as if they’d belonged there all along. The author blends fantasy and science fiction into a wholly new and compelling concoction. If you love gripping action, fantastic plot and characters, and stellar writing, don’t miss out on this fabulous series, though it is recommended that they be read in order.

Fallen star: troll hunters, book four. – Michael Dahl.

104 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-13
Rating: Wizard

Dr. Hoo and the four children return to Zion Falls after defeating the troll army in the underground gathool kingdom only to find their beloved city under attack from their friends, family and neighbors. The citizens of Zion Falls are under the trolls’ hypnotic control. The doctor and the young light bearers are the town’s only hope. The threat lurking deep beneath the surface of the quarry lake is far more sinister than any foe they’ve faced so far. It is the Mooloom, the father of the gathool race. The final battle against the evil trolls is packed full of rip roaring action with sword fighting, tangling with a many tentacled beast, and amazing underwater feats. Victory is achieved at a terrible cost. Now that the light bearers have triumphed releasing the townspeople from the thrall of the enemy, life in Zion Falls returns to normal. Update notes and gathool vocabulary are provided at the end. The final book in this series promises hair raising moments and great battle sequences for young adventure seekers.
(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

Lava crown: Troll hunters, book three by Michael Dahl.

105 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-13
Rating: Wizard

Pablo and his friends are becoming more adept at using their new found light bearer powers and are working with Mara on a plan to rescue Dr. Hoo, Bryce and all the other residents of Zion Falls who have been taken prisoner by the troll general and kept in the underground lava chamber of the gathool kingdom. Uzhk, their troll ally, is heading underneath to create a diversion with a direct attack. Since Dr. Hoo’s tower can double as a moving vessel when activated by the combined powers of Pablo, Thora, Zack and Louise, they decide to use it to descend into the enemy’s lair. Meanwhile Dr. Hoo sets a trap for Ooloom, the troll general, by convincing him he’s betrayed the children. The battle to save the prisoners is treacherous and the young warriors  battle against overwhelming odds. The victory is bittersweet and reveals Dr. Hoo’s dark secret. Lots of heated fighting, lots of hot lava, plenty of evil troll warriors and a sinister general with hypnotic powers fill the pages of the third book in this series. Readers will be chomping at the bit to find out what happens. Just as in the previous volumes, the author includes a glossary and notes at the end. (This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Dark tower rising: Troll hunters, book two. by Michael Dahl

105 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-13
Rating: Wizard

Pablo, Thora, Zack and seven-year-old Louise find out they are Praktara, bearers of light, and destined to fight the battle against the trolls for control of the earth. Each child is star touched and in battle bears the likeness of a constellation – Zack is Ursa Major, Pablo is Orion, Thora is Aquarius and Louise is Libra. Banded together their power is formidable. Thora’s brother, Bryce is possessed by an evil denizen and while under its thrall he kidnaps Dr. Hoo. Summoned by the doctor, her colleague, Mara arrives in Zion Falls to help. She discovers where the trolls are planning their next attack using a Croatoan, a type of dark tower that can be ridden to the surface. Battling as a team, Mara, her troll ally, Uzhk, and the kids with their combined powers stop the trolls from emerging. Each book in this series depends on the previous volume flowing so continually and naturally they resemble one long story divided into parts. There is much in this volume to appeal to kids – constellations, magic, science, giant evil toads, swarms of insects, fierce battles, seas of snakes and strangling vines. As with previous volumes, the author includes notes on dark towers and additional Gathool vocabulary.

(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

Skyfall: Troll hunters, book one. by Michael Dahl

105 pgs.

Target audience: Ages 9-13

Rating: Wizard

The monsters so vividly drawn in a young boy’s imagination come alive during the biggest meteor storm in a century, the Draconids. Pablo and his friends, Thora and Bryce are supposed to meet at the old quarry lake to watch the show, but a mysterious car accident involving one of Pablo’s schoolmates, Zack, prevents him from getting there. Seven-year-old Louise who lives nearby with her dad, runs into the woods after one of her bunnies escapes. Upon returning home after the meteor shower, Thora meets up with Zack and Pablo who are trying to find the lost Louise. A terrifying monster comes thundering through the forest after them, but a centaur appears out of nowhere and vanquishes the beast. A strange three-armed man, Dr. Hoo, rescues the kids and takes them to his house. They learn that Dr. Hoo is a crypto zoologist who studies hidden and secret creatures and the monster after them was a gathool or troll and is most definitely not alone. Others have come to take back the surface world for themselves and the doctor’s house is currently under attack from all sides. While the doctor goes off to take care of the trolls, the kids use their initiative, unique skills and talent to help out. There is non stop action in this exciting new chapter book series. The illustrations done in black and sepia contribute nicely to the creepy aspect of the story. The author includes notes on the gathool and a gathool vocabulary.
(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

City of Lies by Lian Tanner (audiobook – read by Claudia Black)

5 discs
Target audience: Ages 9-12
Rating: Wizard

Children are going missing in the city of Jewel. Goldie Roth has been offered the position of fifth Keeper at the Museum of Dunt, but she’s reluctant to leave her parents at home alone. However when Toadspit’s sister, Bonnie, is taken, he and Goldie head off in pursuit of the kidnappers by stowing away on their ship headed for the southern city of Spoke. When they arrive the citizens are celebrating a local festival where nothing is as it seems and lies and truth switch places. The city allows for a few big lies to come true and Goldie uses this to bring the mythical Princess Frisia to life. She and Toadspit are helped in their battle against the kidnappers by a few street urchins, their beloved slaughterbird, Morg, a group of loyal mice, and a cat. Back in Jewel, the Flugelman and Guardian Hope are orchestrating the kidnapping as a way to ensure their return to power. The story continues to be just as captivating as its predecessor, The Museum of Thieves, but ends with a cliffhanger. Claudia Black simply does an amazing job with the tone of the story, breathing life to the emotions and delivering sound effects with perfection. As is often the case with middle books, it sets the stage for the final battle to save the city of Jewel, so the pace does slow down a bit in an effort to give backstory. Even though the bulk of the story takes place in the city of Spoke, favorite characters Sinew, Olga Ciavolga, and Broo make an appearance. The big lie that Goldie weaves with her magic gives the author the opportunity to explain the reason behind Goldie’s power. This series needs to be read in order, so if you haven’t read these there is no better time than the present.