Release Date: 04/03/11
BOOK BLURB:
Mosca Mye and Eponymous Clent are in trouble again. Escaping disaster by the skin of their teeth, they find refuge in Toll, the strange gateway town where visitors may neither enter nor leave without paying a price. By day, the city is well-mannered and orderly; by night, it's the haunt of rogues and villains. Wherever there's a plot, there's sure to be treachery, and wherever there's treachery, there's sure to be trouble - and where there's trouble, Clent, Mosca and the web-footed apocalypse Saracen can't be far behind. But as past deeds catch up with them and old enemies appear, it looks as if this time there's no way out ...
REVIEW:
The follow on title from the much loved Fly by Night and one that will keep readers glued from the first page to the last. The wonderfully inventive world that Frances creates will enchant, the writing is lovingly creative and when backed with great prose and a fast paced plot alongside great characters, the reader knows that they have every chance to get the most from this book. Add to this complex recipe some real humdinger twists, a touch of mayhem as well as a quest and you know that its going to be something that is very special to the young reader.
Whilst you don’t have to have read the original title in the series I ‘d suggest that you do as otherwise you may well find yourself missing some of the details that are woven within this titles tapestry which made it a real joy to read. All in, this is fun, it is complex and above all else our characters have to ask if the ends justify the means.
Release Date: 01/09/96
BOOK BLURB:
This is a breath-taking adventure story, set in reimagined eighteenth-century England. As the realm struggles to maintain an uneasy peace after years of cival war and tyranny, a twelve-year-old orphan and her loyal companion, a grumpy goose, are about to become the unlikely heroes of a radical revolution. Mosca Mye has spent her childhood in a miserable hamlet, after her father was banished there for writing inflammatory books about freedom. Now he is dead and Mosca is on the run, heading for the city of Mandelion. There she finds herself living by her wits among cut-throat highwaymen, spies and smugglers. With peril at every turn, Mosca uncovers a dark plot to terrorize the people of Mandelion, and soon merry mayhem leads to murder ...With an unforgettable cast of characters and an inspiring message at its heart - sometimes the power of words can change the world!
REVIEW:
Frances Hardinge’s first novel and one that clearly demonstrates the author’s talent and why she’s a name to watch. Originally released in 2006 I am pretty much a late comer to this title and was pleasantly surprised at what the book contained.
As with her other titles, the reader can expect some great dialogue, a good number of interesting characters and protagonists that they can readily identify with. Add to the mix a seriously good descriptive style as well as an understanding of pace that makes this a title that the reader enjoy especially when they take into account the vivid world described within. All in, this title is thoroughly enjoyable, although on a critical note, I’d suggest that this title is for the older reader than the recommended age due to the complexities of the overall arc.
Release Date: 04/03/11
