Review by Luisa
Eleven-year-old Princess Charlotte, known as Charlie, lives in a castle with her eccentric father - a king who locks himself away and devotes himself to building intricate card castles. He hasn't been the same since the queen mysteriously disappeared five years before. Charlie is a wild, mostly fearless girl who likes to play on the castle roof and antagonise the nasty housekeeper, Mrs O'Dair, whenever possible. Her only friend is former butler Mr Moleglass who lives in the cellar, and sometimes the annoying Tobias, the gardener's boy.
Then Charlie discovers a scrap of paper that could hold a clue to her mother's disappearance, and everything changes. Together with Tobias, she begins a dangerous mission to work out the sinister truth - before it's too late. If Charlie trusts the wrong people then her life, her father - and the entire kingdom - could be in serious danger...
This is a fabulous book set in a fantastic, Victorian-style kingdom. Every nook and cranny of Charlie's world is filled with shadowy secrets, and not everyone is quite what they seem. The characters are intriguing, and the setting of Quale Castle is so well-described that I could imagine everything very clearly. I loved the confused king, the sharp-witted prime minister, and the defiant, brave Charlie herself. The plot is full of clever twists and it keeps you guessing all the way through. As Charlie tears through adventure after adventure, the ever-increasing danger, political intrigue and threats feel very real, as well as being brilliant, nail-biting fun.
Castle of Shadows will be a huge hit with fans of mysterious, absorbing and action-packed novels aimed at readers aged 9+.
Review by Luisa
Castle of Shadows is officially released today, 7th January 2010, and the sequel, City of Thieves should be available on 5th August 2010.
Great review!
I'm halfway through and I'm loving it.
Posted by: Sharon Jones | 07 January 2010 at 02:16 PM
Thanks! Ooh, halfway through? Watch out for the fantastic bit where - --CUT!--
:)
Happy reading!
Posted by: Luisa | 07 January 2010 at 02:25 PM
Thanks for an interesting review Luisa. I had been wondering if I should read this as part of my challenge but I wasn't sure. Now I've read your review I am convinced. History and Mystery? It must be a winner!
Posted by: Becky (The Bookette) | 07 January 2010 at 02:52 PM
ooh sounds good!
Posted by: Sammee | 07 January 2010 at 05:03 PM
I already have a copy of this and can't wait to read it! Your fantastic review makes it sound even better! :)
Posted by: Bookalicious Ramblings | 07 January 2010 at 06:27 PM
This sounds so good. It's on my wishlist! Thanks for the review :)
Posted by: Jenny | 07 January 2010 at 11:18 PM
have any sally gardener books been review of chicklish?
this sounds great.
Posted by: Anna | 08 January 2010 at 01:21 AM
Thank you so much for your great comments, everyone!
Anna, "I, Coriander" by Sally Gardener has been reviewed here. We have an index of reviews on the right-hand side and you can find a link there. Thanks!
Posted by: Luisa | 08 January 2010 at 01:30 AM
This sounds fantastic. I'll have to add it to my TBR list. Thanks for the review, Luisa!
Posted by: Sophie | 08 January 2010 at 11:55 AM
This sounds so good. I'm on a bit of a middle grade book kick at the moment and so I'm psyched to hear more about this one. Thanks for the review!
Posted by: Lauren | 08 January 2010 at 09:35 PM
This book is really good we had to read it for literacy and i loved every minuete of it. Ellen renner is coming to see us at school today and is bringing some sighned books.I definiatly would read city of theives!
Posted by: gallagher girl | 24 May 2012 at 08:46 AM