A Tangle of Gold

Starred review from December 15, 2015
A grand finale to a grand adventure, complete with truly startling revelations. Elliot and Madeleine have come a long way from that first exchange of letters through a crack in a parking meter (and also time and space). Moriarty amps the tension and stakes higher with each volume. Here, the action and cast of characters move to Cello, a brilliantly imagined alternate world that is both like and unlike the world Madeleine and readers know. Peculiar dialogue (particularly Samuel's Olde Quainte accent and Ko's strange verbal constructions), just-right quirkiness, non sequiturs that are in fact all critical moments of connection, alchemy, and of course Isaac Newton: in any other hands, this might be a disaster, especially as the whimsy is cut with moments of genuine pathos and serious issues (Holly's health, Belle's mother). As Madeleine, Elliot, and Keira (the Royal Youth Alliance member from Jagged Edge) join with a host of motley others to save Cello, it's hard not to draw parallels to our own world--climate disaster (here in the form of raging color storms); political unrest; cutthroat anti-government groups--but Moriarty infuses the chaos with hope. Love, connection, and clear sight can save Cello, and perhaps the World. Colorful and madcap, a veritable "whirlshine" of sparkle, with a side of tears: deeply satisfying, perfectly ended. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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Starred review from May 1, 2016

Gr 6-9-Moriarty ably wraps up the many plot threads woven through this concluding volume. Elliot and his father, reunited at the end of The Cracks in the Kingdom, are brought back to the magical kingdom of Cello, and it seems Madeleine's involvement with the parallel world has come to an end. But worsening nosebleeds and visions of another century plague Madeleine, while back in Cello, Elliot is being held captive by a dangerous group who want to overthrow the monarchy Elliot, Madeleine, and the Royal Youth Alliance have been working so hard to restore. This tale concurrently presents a multitude of stories in three settings (Madeleine's world, Elliot's hometown, and Elliot's Hostile prison), and teens may feel overwhelmed by the large cast, multiple locations, and intertwining plotlines. Yet despite the complexity, the story works, zigging and zagging in pleasantly surprising ways. The magic continues to be refreshingly inventive, and the world-building is so precise readers will easily picture the lands of Cello in their minds. Elliot and Madeleine are characters to cherish. The sweetly satisfying conclusion will leave fans with a smile. VERDICT This final installment will garner even more followers for the inventive, exciting series.-Elisabeth Gattullo Marrocolla, Darien Library, CT

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