The Threads of Magic

February 1, 2021

Gr 5 Up-Readers will immediately settle comfortably into this deftly written high-adventure fantasy. When Pip, described as a "thieving young man with black hair, short scrawny legs and weasel eyes," pickpockets a Royal of Clarel, he finds himself with a silver box that holds a bewitched human heart. His sister El is wary of the magical object, but Pip can't seem to part with it. He becomes the target of royal assassins, witches, and specters-all of whom will stop at nothing to get the heart back. The omniscient narrator gives readers a bird's-eye view of the many-threaded plot and the multitude of players woven into it: Pip; El; the blonde Princess Georgette; Oni, a witch with curly, closely cropped hair, and her mother Amina; several kings; a few assassins, shape-shifters, and a host of others. At times, keeping the characters straight becomes cumbersome, and exactly how the magical heart will benefit those seeking it is not clear until more than three-quarters of the way through. However, the theme that power without love must be defeated drives the story. And it's a fun world to be in. The close buildings, cobblestones, and mucky streets of Clarel bring the Victorian gothic mood of Laura Amy Schlitz's Splendors and Glooms to mind, while the worldbuilding and adventure will be enjoyed by Cornelia Funke fans. VERDICT A great selection for voracious readers who aren't yet ready for YA.-Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles P.L.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2021
When he acquires a silver box containing a mysterious shriveled heart, an orphan boy suddenly finds his life in peril. Twelve-year-old Pip and his older sister, El, live on their own in the kingdom of Clarel, where the king has ordered Princess Georgette, his only heir, to marry neighboring King Oswald against her will. In the scuffle of an attempted street robbery he witnesses, Pip pockets a beautiful box containing a Stone Heart, intended for powerful Cardinal Lamir, the prelate involved in eliminating witchcraft in Clarel. Pip keeps the Heart, convinced it's alive and magical, but after discovering that an assassin is searching for him, Pip and El seek refuge with clever undercover witches. From the witches they learn the Heart was originally removed from a young prince by a witch intent on making a spell to eliminate Specters, parasitic creatures like Oswald who exist beyond death, rule royal houses, and persecute witches. As Pip feels himself increasingly manipulated by the Heart, the witches rally, hoping to prevent Georgette's marriage to Oswald and stop the Heart from falling into Specter hands. The intriguing, intricate backstory of how the Specters originated and why the Heart was created unfolds gradually, culminating in a fast-paced climax. A fascinating, fantastical cast of characters with competing interests and motivations adds richness to this suspenseful tale of unexpected alliances. Characters are cued as White. Sinister assassins, ghoulish Specters, and feisty witches make this a rousing read. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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April 15, 2021
Grades 5-8 After nicking a bejeweled chest, orphan Pip feels that fortune has finally smiled upon him. He and his sister El expect to find treasure inside, but it only contains a small, wrinkled heart. El is horrified, while Pip is intrigued, feeling a strange affinity for the unusual object. But he gets more than he bargained for as the heart's intended recipient, the terrifying Cardinal Lamir, will stop at nothing to track down his prize and amass unlimited power. There are shadowy assassins to dodge, mysterious Specters to stop, and rips in the fabric of reality to mend, but Pip and El have a host of unlikely allies in their corner, including a wayward princess and a coven of underground witches. It's a beautifully crafted story, though the world building and backstory take time to develop, despite fast pacing and plenty of thrills. The young protagonists are easy to befriend, acting believably bewildered, bothered, or brave in turn, and the villains are deliciously menacing. Fantasy fans will feel right at home in this magical, marvelous world.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2019
This first foray by Alison Croggon—best known for her ‘Pellinor’ fantasy series—into middle-grade is a sophisticated story of power, friendship and magic. The city of Clavel is in a medieval-style world where witches are sentenced to death and powerful men have learned to harness immortality and become Spectres—souls that live well beyond death in younger bodies. When Pip, a young pickpocket, finds a silver box with a shrivelled heart within, he stumbles upon an evil plot to take over the kingdom. The object he has discovered, both revered and reviled, is actually the fossilised heart of a young prince killed by a witch in a misguided attempt to outwit the Spectres. Many corrupt men are hunting Pip down to retrieve it. Pip, his younger sister El and her best friend Obi join forces to stay safe, and Obi’s mother, who is a powerful witch, agrees to help. Also playing roles are the unpleasant king, the corrupt cardinal of the church, a weak scribe and many others who aid or abet the young friends. With an extensive cast of characters and a richly drawn world, this is engrossing and imaginative fantasy that will appeal to readers of Jaclyn Moriarty and Lian Tanner. At nearly 400 pages and with some terrifying scenes, it’s best suited to strong readers who don’t mind being scared, aged 10 and up.

Angela Crocombe is the manager of Readings Kids