"The Beheading Game" by Rebecca Lehmann

The Beheading Game (Mar. 24, 2026) by Rebecca Lehmann.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Disgraced, beheaded, died. Awoke, sewed on ... survived? The story starts in the hours after Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, has been beheaded. She’d been falsely accused of incest, adultery and high treason. And she hadn’t given the king a male heir. She finds herself unceremoniously in an arrow chest, grabs her head and borrows a woman’s sewing kit to sew it back on. Just another day of a woman being proactive! She’s gone from a genteel upbringing to a royal life and now has to disguise herself as a commoner to blend in. She’s learning as she goes, and she’s got a lot to learn. She knows her world as a living, breathing queen, not as the dead returned to life dressed like a working-class woman. She doesn’t realize the shopkeeper is sizing her up for weaknesses, and the fenlanders are not the simpletons she envisions. A prostitute who saves her becomes a trusted friend, but she hesitates to tell Alice her biggest secret. Anne tells her that she needs to find her daughter before harm comes to her. While she would truly love to see Elizabeth, she means to exact revenge and set in motion Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. She’ll have to sneak into Whitehall Palace and slip into the one place Henry VIII is ever alone (and no, that place is not the bathroom). Anne is out for revenge. An eye for an eye ... or how about a head for a head?

            Wander through the wilds of England during the Tudor reign of 1536. The adult fiction tale blends speculative fiction and magical realism in a historical fantasy with an alternate history. It is crafty and inventive, vicious and macabre. There is danger and unpleasantness, and no one who’s easily queasy should read this. Lehmann’s novel is bold, upsetting, triumphant, vulnerable and strong. She fashions a new future for one of history’s most maligned women. She gives voice to one who was historically mouthy.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 17

My third young-adult (YA) compilation post for this year features The Gilded Wolves trilogy. Prior to this YA set, I’d only read middle-grade books written by the author.

The Gilded Wolves (Jan. 15, 2019) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the first novel in a trilogy.>

The wealthy hotelier of L’Eden is a treasure seeker, heir of House Vanth, which was declared a dead line 10 years ago. Séverin Montagnet-Alarie wants his House back. In order to reclaim his birthright, he needs the Babel Fragment for the Order of Babel. To help him is a diverse group of rapscallions: Laila is an Indian cabaret dancer whose ability to read unforged objects that she touches has a sinister backstory, Zofia is a Jewish engineer kicked out of university for being Jewish with a Forging affinity for solid matter (mostly metals and crystals), Tristan Maréchal is Séverin’s brother-in-arms with a Forging affinity for liquid matter (specifically, that present in plants) who has an enormous pet tarantula named Goliath, and Enrique Mercado-Lopez is a Filipino historian banished from his home who wishes he could Forge, but no ability manifested by his thirteenth birthday. Helping with the heist is Hypnos, patriarch of House Nyx, the son of Haitian slaves and a French aristocrat, who, for all of his handsome bluster, really could use some good friends. They’re going to pull off a grand heist that’ll place them all in danger.  They need the Horus Eye, which mysterious rival Roux-Joubert does not want them to have, but to find the Fragment, they will need to locate Fallen House’s meeting place, and no one knew of it even before it was Fallen and had an actual name. Séverin wants the Fragment to become patriarch of the House he grew up in, but the Fragment can wield unimaginable power. Perhaps, even, the power of godhood, but they might lose themselves and break the world in the process.

            Having read Chokshi’s six middle-grade novels from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, I decided I was overdue to try one of her YA novels. The first in The Gilded Wolves trilogy is a YA fantasy with an alternate, magical history that’s tantalizingly dark yet extravagant, multiethnic and inclusive. It’s a confection of sumptuous prose, glittering (mis)adventure and dazzling imagination. The story is evocative and immersive, the characters devilishly charming, and the writing smartly takes on colonialism and cultural appropriation without bogging the story down. We’ve got societal outcasts saving the world, and I expect it’s going to be epic.

            Favorite line: “Secrets keep my hair lustrous.” --Séverin, p. 13

The Silvered Serpents (Sept. 22, 2020) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the middle novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

The Fallen House has been thwarted, but it’s come at a terrible price. It haunts all of them, Séverin most of all. He’s obsessed with finding The Divine Lyrics, a legendary book which would grant him immortality and godlike powers. Laila seeks it also, but she’s kept her true reason for wanting it a secret. They all think the garnet ring Zofia Forged for her is counting down the days until her birthday, which it is, but it’s way more than that. Séverin, Laila (acting as his mistress), Enrique (a historian), Zofia and Hypnos (House Nyx patriarch) miraculously calculate the coordinates of the Sleeping Palace near Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. They go with Delphine Desrosiers, matriarch of House Kore, Ruslan Goryunov the Bald, patriarch of House Dazbog, which historically trades “in secrets and parchment,” and Eva Yefremovna, “blood Forging artist of impeccable skill” and Ruslan’s cousin. The Sleeping Palace is a near-forgotten mansion of crystalline, ice-Forged animals, broken Muses, mutilated statues without hands and a string of unsolved murders. Secrets are carried by ghosts of the past, and they’re coming to light. The path is gilded with diamonds and treasure, but it’s also inlaid with freezing cold and booby traps.

            The middle novel in The Gilded Wolves trilogy is alluringly dark and dangerous, exquisitely grand and glamorous. The center YA fantasy is a complex filling of smart writing, detailed worldbuilding and epic plotting, making what could be thorny and overwhelming into a story that’s fluid and graceful, even in its horrific moments. Chokshi doesn’t simply place words on the pages willy-nilly, but with the distinct skill of an artisan. It is sleek and diverse, but beware, it’s sometimes bloody, too.

The Bronzed Beasts (Sept. 21, 2021) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

Godhood is coming, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie can feel it, but the group is fractured. Séverin has seemingly betrayed his friends: Enrique Mercado-Lopez, Hypnos Leclair, Zofia Boguska and Laila. Laila thinks the others are dead until they stir to life, and Hypnos’ face falls when he sees the Mnemo bug smashed. Without those clues, they must locate Delphine Desrosiers’ safe house and wend their way through the twisted waterways of Venice on their own. They will find each other, Séverin is determined that this will be so. He’s in possession of the Divine Lyre, and he’s balancing the unhinged whims of Ruslan Goryunov, Patriarch of the Fallen House. They know that the location of the temple where the Divine Lyre can be played is Poveglia (a.k.a. Plague Island), but they don’t know how to access the temple. Laila’s time is winding down. 10 days and counting and already there are times where she can’t feel – not the breath in her, sometimes not even a cut deep enough to cause blood to course down her arm. There are gondola rides on the canal, cemeteries, hidden masquerade balls (courtesy of House Janus), explosions (courtesy of Zofia), siren skeleton songs and shining ziggurat steps. There’s making and unmaking, possible remaking, and there’s always a price to pay.

            Readers return to the darkly alluring, intriguing world in the final installment in The Gilded Wolves trilogy. It’s a beautiful YA fantasy with sparkles and blood, elegance and manipulation, love and angst, mythology and realism, fantastical truths and harsh realities. “The Bronzed Beasts” wraps up a dazzling and dangerous treasure hunt with clues, introspection, history, diversity and inclusion. There’s colorism and its lasting effects on their characters, though readers see that all of these main characters are beloved and worthy of love. To immerse oneself in this trilogy is to have one’s heart wrenched, feel the enduring power of emotion and laugh aloud at Hypnos’ comic relief. What a compelling farewell to a masterfully-imagined, thoughtful fantasy series.

"The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England" by Brandon Sanderson

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (June 27, 2023) by Brandon Sanderson.

   Steve Argyle, illustrator.

<This is a standalone novel.>

A man awakens in what appears to be medieval England with no inkling of who he is, where he came from or why he’s there. Experiences and people he encounters along the way trigger his hidden memories. While he isn’t the person Ulric Stromfin (cartel leader) is chasing, Runian (Sefawynn’s name for him; she’s a skop a.k.a. poet) has become a person of interest just by being in this particular dimension. As he gains his missing memories, Runian makes allies amongst the locals. Along with Sefawynn, there’s Ealston, the Little Father of Stenford (lesser than an earldom), and Thokk, a spry woman who looks to be 80. Gaining his memories and finding allies will be necessary for him to survive in this Anglo-Saxon-England-type dimension. This dimension also supposedly has some magic, not like the expensive augments Runian has (like plating in his forearms to ward off, say, a knife attack) or his medical nanites (which require him to eat carbon to keep them replenished), but actual magic. Skops have their boasts, and there are wights. Superstition has it that if a skop sees one directly, either the wight will die or the skop will. They can be helpful or mischievous and usually alone aren’t powerful. But together, can they do more? Like overcome invading Hordamen (Vikings with long, enviously well-groomed hair) and the god Woden?

            In the case of this novel, I didn’t judge it by its cover, but by its title. This adult fiction novel is part sci-fi and epic fantasy involving traveling to a different dimension from a futuristic Seattle. When Runian fully recalls his name and who he is, he remembers that he’s not a person who’s made great choices. In this dimension, he can be the hero. It’s eye-opening for him and entertaining for the readers. It’s not without fear of constantly having to defend your territory and those you care about and the hardship of living life without basic amenities, but Sanderson writes it as a constant adventure with high stakes, brilliant world-building, a fast-paced plot and defined characters. Prior to this story, I’d only read one of his middle-grade stories in advanced reader copy (ARC) form, but in reading this novel, I can see why Sanderson’s a prolific author. When reading this story, you might ask yourself, “All Right, WHY Can’t I Have a Dimension Full of Talking Bananas?” Five out of five stars.

"Snow & Poison" by Melissa de la Cruz

Snow & Poison (Apr. 18, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is a standalone novel.*

On the same day, Lady Sophie, daughter of Duke Maximilian and the late Duchess Maria of Bavaria, gains a beautiful stepmother only 10 years her senior and falls in love with Prince Philip, heir to the Spanish throne and son of King Ferdinand. Unsure of Lady Claudia at first, with her sneaking about in a servant’s uniform and staff calling her a witch, Sophie becomes close to her stepmother, who loves her. The love between Sophie and Philip incites violent anger in the king of Spain. He expects Philip to marry a princess of England and so commands Sophie’s death. With Duke Maximilian in a coma-like sleep and Philip called off to war with England, Sophie flees to the woods and takes on the name Snow White, which her mom used to call her. She finds refuge in the home of seven orphans (Anselm, Klaus, Willem, Bren, Markus, Johann and Thomas), ranging in age from approximately 12 years old down to four or five. Children of all ages have been working in the mines, which is deplorable, and Sophie went to her father hoping he’d be able to convince his ministers to accept a new budget to aid the villagers. She’s unsuccessful, but her taking an interest in palace affairs shows maturity. Tucked away with the seven young miners and with her mother’s blade in her possession (her training is thanks to Chef), she feels safe until an actual witch arrives. She is the witch of the woods whom Lady Claudia trusts and whom Duchess Maria trusted before her. But can Sophie trust her when she asks her to bite into the most luscious apple she’s ever seen? Is love stronger than poison?

            Many are familiar with the framework of fairy tales, and the tale of Snow White is classic. In de la Cruz’s interpretation, there’s no wicked stepmother trope and the witch is anything but evil. Sophie, despite her coddled upbringing, is stubborn and resourceful, refreshingly capable of hard work in order to survive and do her part to help at the home of the young miners. This story holds the refinement of court and fast-blooming love, but also contains imminent threat and anticipated danger. Per the Author’s Note, the story is loosely based on the “true” stories that scholars believe inspired the tale of “Snow White.” While there are generic moments, I found the historical fantasy to read fast with its twists, turns and the occasional dead sprint away from danger. It is a beguiling YA novel, alluring with a determination to overcome and survive. I’m satisfied adding it to my YA collection.

            Also by de la Cruz: Cinder & Glass

"The Kingdom of Back" by Marie Lu

The Kingdom of Back (Mar. 3, 2020) by Marie Lu.

Everyone is familiar with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (affectionately called Woferl), but this is not his story. It is hers. Maria Anna Mozart, usually called Nannerl. She’s the elder Mozart. The big sister who should shine as brightly as her little brother, but for the fact that she’s female in a male-dominated world (this is the 18^th century, after all). This does not stop her from her desire to compose music for all to hear and is masterful in playing the clavier (harpsichord), but she’ll only perform until she’s of a marriageable age, according to her strict and often tyrannical father. As is known, Woferl shines brightly from a young age; he’s clearly a prodigy. His brilliance eclipses Nannerl’s swiftly and with such ease, and she struggles with jealousy. People will remember him, but what about her? The Mozart family’s tours are long and often take a toll on the young Mozarts, especially on Woferl’s health. Strangely, his downturns in health seem to coincide with a handsome, mysterious stranger from a land of their own stories. A forest surrounds a kingdom, but the trees grow upside down (this is the Kingdom of Back, for it can seem backwards). It is a magical place, intriguing to explore and fantastical, and they even outwit a witch. The stranger, Hyacinth, says he can help Nannerl if she’ll help him. But at what cost?

            From what I’ve read from Marie Lu, “The Kingdom of Back” is her first foray into the world of historical fiction. Historical fantasy. Lu’s YA novel is a clever composition of history, magic and world-building. Whether at home in Austria, somewhere in Europe on a grand tour or visiting Back, Lu blends each setting to segue without hitting the wrong note. That isn’t to say it’s a perfectly comprised concerto. Despite reading the book fairly quickly, there remained something slow about reading it compared to the colorful excitement of the Warcross duology or the action of the Legend series. While I appreciated the historical element, I was less impressed by Hyacinth and Back as a whole. That part felt a bit generic, I’m disappointed to admit. Still, the love/rivalry of the Mozart siblings is emotional and compelling, especially when Nannerl opens her eyes to the Faustian mess she’s gotten herself into. I may not have loved this story, but there is music in it. Can you hear it?

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 10

Since I’ve mostly been preferring three-book posts when it comes to compilations, I decided a trilogy would be perfect for a post. I’ve had these books since their respective publication dates. I’ve simply been very behind in my reading and was so behind on this one that I figured I might as well wait until I had all three to read. The author may disagree (apologies to Kiersten White), but better late than never, right?

And I Darken (June 28, 2016) by Kiersten White.

Ladislav “Lada” Dracul (or Dragwlya) is everything her father wanted … if she’d been born a boy. The ruthless military governor (tyrant) of Transylvania, Vlad Dracul, a prince of Wallachia, has a gargantuan ego and is appalled that his seed could produce a daughter. He expects that she’ll at least be beautiful “so we can get some use out of her,” but she is the very opposite. However, she appears to have all the rage and ferocity befitting a Dracul. She can be as ruthless, too, but still a conscience lies beneath. That’s mostly attributed to her brother, Radu, who has all the beauty that Lada does not and is sensitive to boot, much to the disgust of their father. Lada understands that ruthlessness is necessary for survival, and this is tested when their father takes them to Edirne in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans are their enemies, yet this is where their father fled with them to. It is here that Lada and Radu meet Mehmed, the least-favored son of Murad, sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Lada’s attraction to the charismatic Mehmed is overshadowed by the fact that he’s heir to the enemy empire, one which she’s vowed to fight against, while Radu loves Mehmed so much that he might as well wear his heart on his sleeve. It’s a toxic triangle, and there are traitors in their midst.

            To imagine Vlad the Impaler as female, look no further than Lada. The first in the And I Darken YA trilogy, the course of the story seems to be heading toward grisly times in the next two installments. That isn’t to say that discouraged me away from the story. Quite the opposite. “And I Darken” is a multi-faceted jewel, albeit one where the facets are dark, fierce, cunning and violent. It’s brilliantly twisted and as sharp as a freshly sharpened blade. It’s complex, but also disturbing. From her entrance as an angry, squalling babe in 1435 to a fierce and angry teenager through 1451, Lada has made her mark. And it’s ferocious and razor-sharp.

            Best lines: “On our wedding night, I will cut out your tongue and swallow it. Then both tongues that spoke our marriage vows will belong to me, and I will be wed only to myself. You will mostly likely choke to death on your own blood, which will be unfortunate, but I will be both husband and wife and therefore not a widow to be pitied.” -- Lada, in response to attempting to be married off (p. 101).

            “Wait! Please, she did not mean any harm. She was teasing. In Wallachia, it is customary for … betrothed couples to … threaten each other. As a sign of affection. When our parents were betrothed, our mother told our father she would disembowel him and wear his intestines around her neck as jewelry.” -- Radu, trying to smooth over what Lada recently said (p. 103).

Now I Rise (June 27, 2017) by Kiersten White.

Demand the crown. Lada has declared herself the ruling prince of Wallachia, but she hasn’t actually secured it. She left the Ottoman Empire with her most loyal men, leaving behind Sultan Mehmed. His idea of helping her to her throne as prince is to keep Wallachia under Ottoman control. Lada will have none of that and spreads her fury across the countryside. The smallest slight can set off her wrath like a match near a gas leak. She leaves in her wake violent, bloody destruction. She’d never say it aloud (and if she did, odds are she’d kill the person she inadvertently told out of fury with herself), but she needs her younger brother Radu. He’s subtle yet charismatic. But, for the first time in his life, Radu did not choose her. Lada’s got her best friend Bogdan and faithful men like Nicolae and Stefan. And she begrudgingly forms a precarious alliance with a former enemy, one John Hunyadi, a brilliant military commander for Hungary.

            Radu’s desire to please Mehmed burns bright like a lighthouse beacon, but Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople. He’s “defected” per Mehmed’s advisement to infiltrate enemy territory. His wife, Nazira, goes with him to Constantinople, for appearances sake. They “escape” the Ottoman Empire with Cyprian, an ambassador of the court of Constantinople. Cyprian has a good soul and counts Radu and Nazira as friends, which makes Radu feel all the worse for the lies he’s told him in order to secure safe passage to and within Constantinople. But he does this for his Mehmed and the Ottoman Empire. However, the way Cyprian sometimes looks at him makes him pause.

            The middle installment in the And I Darken trilogy is both disturbing and absolutely riveting. White’s characters are charismatic (Radu), toxic (Lada) and cunning (both). As twisted historical fiction, it is painstakingly-detailed and magnificent in scope. The complexity continues in this story, and it’s good that Radu is away from Mehmed for most of the story. His desperate love for him can be, well, annoyingly desperate. I want him to grow as a character and make it through all the darkness that has been his life thus far.

Bright We Burn (July 10, 2018) by Kiersten White.

Wallachia is her mother, and she has taken back her throne. No boyars (many of whom she’s killed) or false allies (killed) or sultans/cousin-kings/allied-kings (wants to kill) will stand in her way. Lada is a prince of Wallachia. She knows she will spend her life defending her throne and someday she will lose. But for now, it is hers. Her closest friends are her best men (such as Bogdan and Stefan), but she is also losing them. Mostly to death. She refuses to acknowledge Sultan Mehmed, self-declared emperor, Hand of God on Earth and Caesar of Rome. In fact, it’s better if the Ottomans stay away, for they likely won’t return. Their corpses will stand as grotesque, rotting, stinking sentinels in a gory display of putrefaction. Welcome to Tirgoviste, capital of Wallachia.

            Radu wishes for a life of quiet, which means, of course, that he does not get it. He’s a bey of the Ottoman Empire under Mehmed. Where once he’d have rejoiced at any special attention from Mehmed, Radu’s feelings have shifted. Radu is not the same person he was before Constantinople and also prior to knowing Cyprian. They were parted when Radu entrusted his wife (in name only) to his care when he’d also admitted his betrayal. Radu has gone to Tirgoviste to make Wallachia a strong country again. Lada has tried to by killing, destroying crops, killing, taking or destroying towns and killing. Radu is the planner, and he’s got sense and charisma. Lada’s approach is more kill-first-and-don’t-bother-asking-questions-later. She loves her country, but at her rate, she will destroy it before it can be truly strong. Wallachia has a chance if Radu will be hers again, at least for a time.

            This concluding novel in White’s And I Darken  trilogy is as brilliantly violent as millions of fireworks lighting up the night sky. Lada is ruthless and violent. And just because she’s a fiercely independent woman doesn’t mean that I automatically, unequivocally rooted for her. Because sometimes, I didn’t root for her. I like that she didn’t win all the time. I didn’t root for those she lost against, either, though I always rooted for Radu. He’s the calm to Lada’s constant storm, a voice of reason against an onslaught of blood. White’s trilogy has been epic, engrossing, complex and nose-crinkling (all those dead bodies really stink after a time). “Bright We Burn” is a worthy finale to a saga filled with passion, love, hate, faith, revenge, loyalty and friendship.

Rutabaga's Reads 2013: Part 13

In this +Scholastic books compilation, there are a couple titles for the younger readers you know and a couple for the older. Please note that I have no material connection to anyone who works for Scholastic or authors any books marketed through the company. I am simply a bookworm who supports the Scholastic Brand!

But and For, Yet and Nor: What is a Conjunction? (Mar. 1, 2010) by Brian P. Cleary.

   Brian Gable, illustrator.

“But and For, Yet and Nor” is just one of many books in Cleary’s Words are CATegorical series. His series focuses on different parts of speech, but by avenue of high-spirited rhyme that presents grammar-learning in a fun, carefree way and not an I’d-rather-get-my-teeth-pulled way. In this book, Cleary concentrates on conjunctions, not only giving the definition of them, but especially by giving examples in word and type. To name a few, he explains how they can bridge phrases or link words and even brings up the common misconception that conjunctions can’t start a sentence. I think these books are terrific, and I highly recommend them for school and classroom libraries. They’re wonderful books for intermediate elementary students and their teachers.

            How many conjunctions can you spot in this summary/review?

Ladybug Girl (Mar. 13, 2008) by David Soman & Jacky Davis.

Little Lulu is Ladybug Girl. She’s got to find her own fun, because her parents have work to do. She momentarily puts on her pouty face, but finds adventure out-of-doors with her dog, Bingo, after her big brother denies her request to play with him. He tells her she’s too little, but she thinks that is ridiculous in her preschool-age way.

            Like so many children, Lulu finds adventure through her imagination. She’s a self-appointed hero with her trusty sidekick, Bingo. This cute tale provides a platform for empowering youngsters using a subtle, fun and kid-friendly approach. The watercolor and line illustrations catch Bingo’s adorably floppy ears and Lulu’s adventures, not to mention Lulu herself in her ladybug costume. She positively stands out amidst the almost-muted backdrops. But I suppose that is the point. After all, Lulu is Ladybug Girl, and she is not too little!

Spellbinding (Apr. 1, 2013) by Maya Gold.

When her teacher gives the class a genealogy assignment, sixteen-year-old Abby Silva discovers she’s the descendent of an accused witch of the Salem Witch Trials. As she delves into her ancestry, mysterious things occur: objects move without aid and things catch fire. Abby doesn’t want to believe that she willed those things to happen. She just wants to be a “normal” teenager, albeit one who’s less invisible and more confident. She wants her school’s “it” boy, Travis Brown, to look at her instead of his odious girlfriend. There’s also the baffling yet attractive Rem Anders, who lives and works in nearby Salem. He’s hot and cold, but perhaps for good reason. Can Abby make sense of her ancestry and who she is before a reckoning tries to make the choice for her?

            This book is like a much lighter version of Stephen King’s “Carrie.” This YA paranormal novel read more like upper middle-grade fiction. That doesn’t mean it’s a watered down book with no substance. It has plenty of conflict. There’s conflict of the regular high-school-garden variety in the forms of friend issues and mean girls. Then there’s the paranormal variety such as magic and ill-intentioned witches. It keeps the reader’s attention with individual characters and an easily-visualized setting. The ending is tied up like a nice bow. Could it have been darker and more intense? Sure, but not all books have to be, and it is fine that “Spellbinding” isn’t. After all, it’s by Maya Gold and not by Stephen King.

Splendors and Glooms (Aug. 28, 2012) by Laura Amy Schlitz.

Though he has more rags than riches, Gaspare Grisini is a master puppeteer. His prowess with the puppet theatre catches Clara Wintermute’s fancy, so he comes to the Wintermute home to put on a show for her twelfth birthday party. The daughter of a wealthy and renowned physician, Clara never wants for necessities and then some. The opposite is true of Grisini’s orphaned assistants, Lizzie Rose Fawr and Parsefall Hooke. Their clothes are shabby, recompense is miserly, and they never know if they’ll have enough for a next meal. To them, the Wintermute home represents everything they don’t have: doting parents, an abundance of food, warmth, riches. Clara is enamored with the puppet theatre, but then she disappears. Grisini is suspected of kidnapping her, and Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are determined to solve the mystery. As they investigate, they open up Grisini’s suspicious past and his wicked intentions. Unbeknownst to them, they flee London only to be ensnared by Grisini’s rival, an old witch with two inheritances to dole out. One is amazing, the other is deadly.

            Schlitz earned a Newberry Honor for this middle-grade, historical fantasy novel. This story mixes magic and mystery, mishaps and misdeeds in order to create a mystical literary concoction. The book is more serious than not, but it is richly written. It is dark, but not so dark that I wouldn’t let a twelve-year-old read it. For those concerned, British slang is used, and I did see one instance of a word that rhymes with “stitch.” The splendors of the book are wondrous and positive, whereas the glooms are frightening and nightmarish (to the characters, not to you). Schlitz’s narrative and characters are so well-drawn that one can’t help but be swept up into the story, unsettling bits and all.

Rutabaga's Reads 2013: Part 11

Here is another round of +Scholastic books. These were my first books by each of these authors. Please note that I am in no way connected to Scholastic except through my love of books and personal support of their brand.

            I thank my brother’s fiancée, Katie, for recommending Cinder!

The Apothecary (Oct. 4, 2011) by Maile Meloy.

It’s 1952, and Janie Scott is a fourteen-year-old who suddenly moves from Los Angeles to London. Her parents are television screenwriters. They’ve been blacklisted¹ by the House Committee on Un-American Activities². Still, Janie isn’t distraught by her parents’ predicament so much that she’s distraught for herself. The flat in London is cold, and Janie’s terribly homesick. On top of that, she has to wear a school uniform and learn Latin. But she meets Benjamin Burrows, son of the apothecary, and she’s moved by his defiance. Benjamin’s dad entrusts them with the Pharmacopoeia right before he goes missing. As they work to keep the book out of enemy hands, they uncover seemingly impossible things and encounter many faces. Who can they trust?

            I was pleasantly surprised by this middle-grade novel. It’s witty and inventive with enough intensity to move the plot along without making it scary and enough humor to keep it from being too serious. The book is part magic and part science with an element of history – a good choice for anyone who enjoys historical fantasy. There is mystery, danger and adventure. It contains the smallest bit of young romance, but it’s not enough that it should scare away a male readership. Make room in your imaginations for “The Apothecary!”

¹The Hollywood blacklist.

²This committee was abolished in 1975. (Yes, it was real!)

Cinder (Jan. 3, 2012) by Marissa Meyer.

In this future Earth, there are six Earthen countries. Linh Cinder resides in New Beijing, capital of the Eastern Commonwealth, and she’s a second-class citizen who’s more a possession than a body with rights. That’s because she’s a cyborg. She knows nothing of her past before she was eleven. She’s sixteen now and is a gifted mechanic. She pays her horrid stepmother’s bills. All of them. She has two stepsisters: one nice (Peony) and one not-so-nice (Pearl). Cinder’s life interconnects with Crown Prince Kaito’s, and she soon gains insight into his major stressors. His father, the emperor, is in the fourth and final stage of letumosis. No cure has been found for the disease, which covers the body in a bruise-colored rash. Fourth stage is reached once the finger tips turn blue-black. Furthermore, the ruthless Lunar people (they live on the moon) watch with Queen Levana trying to bedazzle her way onto an Earthen throne through the manipulation of bioelectricity. Any Lunar has this ability, except for shells. Queen Levana uses it for glossy bully purposes as much as for just plain evil ones. Cinder will find that her role will become far more important than simply being a cyborg-mechanic.

            I was initially unsure of “Cinder,” wondering if I’d like a book centered on a gifted-mechanic cyborg. It turns out that I did! “Cinder” is a YA science fiction book with fairytale ties set in a dystopian future. “Cinder” is not a remake of the Disney version of Cinderella, so don’t set yourself up for a classic retelling of that beloved story. It is Meyer’s take on the tale, and there are similarities. You may see the “pumpkin” in the car, and of course there’s the terrible stepmother. The characters are distinctive, and the storyline is decent. The book is perhaps too predictable at times, but the author’s writing is skilled, her world-building is sound, and the racism (even of an atypical kind) is still racism enough to rankle the nerves. This is the first book in a series.

Mockingbird (Apr. 15, 2010)  by Kathryn Erskine.

What would it be like to view everything in black and white? I’m not referring to TVs before they were in color. I’m talking about Caitlin Smith’s world. For her, everything is black or white, good or bad, easy or hard. She is an eleven-year-old with Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Her brother, Devon, taught her and guided her, but he’s dead now. She wants to find closure after she learns the definition of it. Caitlin works with her school’s counselor, Mrs. Brook, who wants her to find friends, learn finesse (the tactful kind) and show empathy. She doesn’t want to, because it’s hard and sometimes she just Doesn’t Get It. But life is more than black or white, and Caitlin may find that it’s not all so bad or scary.

            A National Book Award Winner (2010), “Mockingbird” is a realistic, middle-grade fiction novel. While the sorrow of the story stems from a school shooting, it is not a book that focuses on violence. It is more a book that focuses on the healing (closure) of a main character who lives with Asperger’s and the grieving community. This is a fine selection, not just for middle school students learning about disorders and realistic tough stuff, but also for high school psychology classes as a discussion topic. While she doesn’t wear a snazzy suit or have superpowers, Caitlin is still a hero who works to learn more, understand more and be more, as we all should.

Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus (May 22, 2012) by Kate O’Hearn.

An unexpected thunderstorm is ravaging the East Coast with NYC in the heart of it. Its intensity seems unusual, but not as unusual as discovering that Pegasus – yes, the winged stallion – has crashed onto Emily Jacobs’ apartment building’s roof. Pegasus is injured and is displeased with Paelen’s actions. Paelen is an Olympian thief, and he’s in a tight bind elsewhere. Meanwhile, Olympus is in danger of being snuffed out by the Nirads, smelly stone giants of gray marble sporting four arms. The Roman gods struggle to defeat them. To complicate matters in NYC, Emily, her friend Joel, Olympian Diana and Pegasus are being pursued, not just by kill-thirsty Nirads, but also by the CRU (Central Research Unit). The CRU deals with “unexplained phenomena,” and all taken by them are never seen again. But it’s imperative they stay alive. They must retrieve Pegasus’ bridle and find Vesta’s Flame (Hestia, for those more familiar with the Greek) and save Olympus. Will anyone be lost? Will Olympus be restored?

            The story is energetic, and it is a decent tide-over for Rick Riordan fans. I still much prefer Riordan’s writing; however, a review quote of his was on the book, which is what prompted me to purchase this title. The pain and anger (yes, there is violence) make this story especially strong emotionally. There is also plenty of daring and adventure mixed with fantasy in this upper middle-grade tale. I appreciate this story of modern mythology combined with our world and how O’Hearn distinguishes her world from similar ones such as those from Riordan.