A Bitter Magic
Roderick Townley
Paperback
(Yearling, Jan. 1, 2035)
A deliciously quirky tale of secrets, magic, and illusions for fans of Circus Mirandus and Savvy. Everything is in place: the packed theater, the grand magician, and, center stage, the magician’s mysterious assistant. Some have called her the most beautiful woman in Europe. Then, in a swirl of light, she vanishes! An astounding illusion—but she never reappears. All that remains are a bloodstained white scarf and her daughter, Cisley, who lives in a glass castle and walks her pet lobster each morning by the sea. Enter Cole, a rambunctious boy from town and Cisley’s first true friend. Together they hunt for clues to her mother’s disappearance. They puzzle over broken mirrors, ever-shifting labyrinths, a closet full of whispering ball gowns, and a fatal quest for a pure black rose. Roderick Townley spins a deliciously spooky tale of one girl’s journey to discover what’s real and what is simply an illusion.“Plenty of magic, a touch of romance, an appealing heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews “A magical adventure with a fascinating setting that will please most middle graders looking for spooky fantasy.” —School Library Journal “Cisley is an immensely likable heroine who will attract readers.” —Booklist
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