  | Threads of magic Author: Croggon, Alison | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Pip lives by his wits in the City of Clarel. When he picks the wrong pocket, he finds he's in possession of a strange dried heart in a silver casket-and those who lost it will stop at nothing to get it back. Pip and his older sister El are drawn deeper into the forbidden world of magic. Now they must seek the help of the secret witches of Clarel and Princess Georgette to wage revolution against a chilling king, a power-hungry church cardinal, and an ancient evil they don't truly understand.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/21)
School Library Journal (02/01/21)
Booklist (04/15/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/04/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2021 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 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 04/15/2021 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.
