by Ursula Jones
Inside Pocket Publishing (UK)
September 2012
I know it's cliche, but Harry Potter fans--this one's for you.
OK, no Hogwarts or muggles, but Jones' kids are scrappy, on their own, and there's a certain kind of magic afoot in a maze-like castle.
After that, the novel is completely different--with a bit of a steampunk feel. However, the romping story, the quirky, over-the-top characters, the real danger, the cast of intrepid kids, the murdered parents, the fast paced writing and action--all very compatible with the Potter readers' tastes. And no wonder--British author Jones has already been a winner of the UK Smartie Award, an award Rowling herself won early in her career.
The main character is Watt, a prince-in-hiding who's real name is Avtar. Watt's personal journey takes him from frightened to resolved...and the result is a page-turner. Jones does a stellar job of the slow reveal--we only learn bits of the situation at first, go down the wrong path when Watt goes down the wrong path, and have aha! moments then Watt has them. By the end of the novel, readers have discovered a more complete, twisty story. I personally love this in a novel.
I did read the ARC, however. Some editing issues, but these are likely resolved in the print edition.
Two thumbs way up! An enjoyable read--can't wait for the rest of the trilogy!
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