May 1, 2019
Gr 7 Up-In her second novel, Rogerson proves herself a worthy successor to Diana Wynne Jones in this moody, atmospheric, and lively classic fantasy. Elisabeth was raised in a magical library, providing her with limitless book smarts but very little life experience. Her well-intentioned actions have disastrous consequences, and she is sent away from her beloved home. She finds unlikely allies in Nathaniel, a handsome sorcerer, and his mysterious servant, Silas. They come to realize that their personal troubles are small parts of a much wider conspiracy and their particular skills may be the only hope to stop the bad guys. Elisabeth is a winning protagonist who believably transitions from naive ingenue to determined heroine without sacrificing her earnest, bookish nature. As in her debut, Rogerson skillfully evokes a fairy tale-tinged adventure with grounded, real stakes. VERDICT This enchanting story is sure to appeal to teen readers eager for more of the world-building, fierce friendships, and feminist heroines of Robin LaFevers and Naomi Novik.-Ann Foster, Saskatoon Public Library, Sask.
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Sixteen-year-old Elisabeth is a foundling, raised in one of the Great Libraries, repositories of magical books called grimoires, which contain classified information and can transform into grotesque monsters. A favorite of the library's director, Elisabeth dreams of becoming a warden-librarian who protects the kingdom from grimoires. Then the director is found brutally murdered, and Elisabeth is accused of the crime. Taken for questioning in the capital, Elizabeth develops a relationship with both her captors, sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demon servant, Silas. It's a slow-burn romance for Nathaniel and Elisabeth, for Elisabeth's preconceptions about sorcerers run deep and are not without cause. There's something for many audiences in Rogerson's (An Enchantment of Ravens, 2017) sophomore novel: bibliophiles and fans of Harry Potter will love the existence and power of magical books; fantasy readers will delight in the many different kinds of (frequently grotesque) magical beings; romance and adventure fans will enjoy the comforting predictability of both those genres; and nearly every chapter ends with a hook. Happily, a cliff-hanger ending guarantees there's more to come.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)
Starred review from April 1, 2019
An apprentice librarian faces a magical threat against a Great Library. Orphaned Elisabeth Scrivener was raised in Summershall, a Great Library of the kingdom of Austermeer. She hopes to train as a warden--a battle-ready librarian, guarding against sorcery. The grimoires within Summershall are dangerous and imbued with life by the spells within them; if damaged, they become uncontrollable Maleficts. A chance encounter introduces Elisabeth to the infamous sorcerer Magister Nathaniel Thorn, who is charmingly roguish--but she doesn't trust sorcerers. One night, Elisabeth awakens to find the library's Director slain and a Malefict on the loose. Wielding the Director's sword to destroy the monster, by morning she's painted as a traitor and questioned by the Magisterium. Over time, Thorn and his demon companion, Silas, prove to be less evil than clever and confounding. As more attacks befall the Great Libraries, Elisabeth decides to seek the evil that threatens them, but it requires challenging everything she believes in a world of complicated magic where things are never as they seem. Elisabeth's journey is fraught with hard-won self-discovery, and Thorn and his demon make for delightful counterparts. The world lives and breathes as enchantingly as the grimoires, and readers will flip pages feverishly, led by the tip of Elisabeth's sword. All major characters are white; two minor characters are brown-skinned, and Nathaniel is bisexual. An enthralling adventure replete with spellbinding characters, a slow-burning love story, and a world worth staying lost in. (map) (Fantasy. 14-adult)
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