It always seems like the latter part of the year holds so much untapped MAGIC when it comes to book releases, and I gotta say, this year is no exception! Grant it, the books that have been released thus far hold some AMAZING stories, and POWERFUL writing, but it almost seems like publishers try to do a "saved the best for last" type moment with their catalogs. Or is it just me? 🤔 But I digress...
Today's second SURPRISE post features a Middle Grade Fantasy title releasing TOMORROW, bright and early, and gives a new look at the somewhat familiar, while spinning a web of interest you won't be able to ignore. Allow me to present, today's book of choice...
by
Karah Sutton
Illustrated by
Pauliina Hannuniemi
9780593121696
Knopf Books for Young Readers
About the book...
A magical retelling of Swan Lake, featuring a clever orphan, a castle filled with enchanted swans, and a quest to unearth the secrets of the past.
Olga is an orphan and a thief, relying on trickery and sleight of hand to make her way in the world. But it’s magic, not thievery, that could get her into trouble.
When Olga and her partner-in-crime Pavel learn of a valuable jewel kept in a secluded castle, Olga sees an opportunity to change their lives: a prize so big, they’d never have to steal again. But the castle is not as it seems, ruled by an enchanter who hosts grand balls every night, only for the guests to disappear each morning, replaced by swans. Guided by cryptic clues from the palace spiders, Olga soon realizes she’s in over her head—torn between a bargain with the enchanter, loyalty to Pavel, and determination to understand how the enchanted swans are linked to her own fate.
One thing is certain: there is dark magic behind the castle’s mysteries, and Olga will stop at nothing to unmask it.
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Everyone is made of dark and light.
Every place can hold both as well.
There is said to be nothing that is inherently good or evil...it simply becomes one or the other more so based on the path it follows. The same can be viewed here.
At first glance, Olga is a thief, or at the very least the apprentice to a thief, and while she does have magic to wield in her own way, she uses it to sparkle the eyes of others to meet the ends she seeks. HOWEVER, if you take a CLOSER LOOK, we find out that Olga is an orphan that was taken in by someone that was a thief, shown how to use her natural born skills to survive, while she kept reaching for the day she'd not have to worry about where her head would rest or her next meal would come from. Two different viewpoints, yielding two very different feelings...now which one is right?
This story spins a tale, quite literally as the teller is technically a spider, but you'll learn more about that when you take your own journey through the pages, and it keeps you hooked from start to finish. The mystical beginnings of our "heartstrings", the way they could be "played" in order to release the magic within, how corrupting power can be, and the tragedy of ignoring the beauty and happiness right in front of you. Now, I realize some of that sounds mighty dark, and while it's true, for both the soul that inhabits the mysterious castle as well as the creatures that surround it, there is darkness to go through, it's not without its hope. Hope for reaching the end Olga sought from the start, but perhaps in a new way. Hope for the chance to end the curse that plagues this valley, while still saving those that can be saved. Hope for starting a new chapter in life with a full heart, no matter the melody it might be playing, and living each day to its fullest.
If you know the story behind Swan Lake, congrats...I did not, despite knowing of the infamous ballet, so, for me, it was curious and magical. I'd imagine the same for those going in with familiarity at the very least because of the twists and turns the story takes, while the black and white illustrations give us something to set our sights on as we eagerly anticipate how the story will end, unraveling each thread of questions along the way.
A great pick for Middle Grade readers and beyond, filled with mystery, danger, fantasy, and heart!
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Special thanks to Cate at Nicole Banholzer PR for the chance to bring this title to you and to Random House Children's Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available TOMORROW via Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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