The Twilight Circus

October 1, 2011
An old foe sets a deadly trap for two young werewolves in a sequel framed by family reunions and positively festooned with hideous vampires. Magical creatures are rising up all over Europe. Recently bitten teen Nat and his shapechanging BF Woody have joined Nat's father and a traveling circus of fauns, furies and other cryptids ("All the incredible things you are about to see are REAL!" the Ringmaster disingenuously informs excited audiences) in France. Almost immediately, they are attacked by flights of fantastically ugly bloodsuckers under the command of a malign and crafty vampire revived by the previous episode's über-villain Lucas Scale. Fortunately the lads/cubs have on their side not only Alexandra Fish, hypercompetent young vampire slayer and British secret agent, but Woody's Wolven relatives--a reclusive clan of particularly powerful white werewolves. Along with vampires that explode in gross showers of gooey ichor when staked, Toft tucks in the odd colorful turn of phrase ("…feeling about as nervous as a small nun at a penguin shoot") and fart joke to lighten the load. She leaves her doggy buddies at the end alive and resolved to join Fish in putting paid to Scale's demonic schemes. Definitely a continuation rather than a freestanding episode, but the author keeps her ongoing plot galloping along and adds an assortment of marvelous new creatures to the cast. (Fantasy.10-13)

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February 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-Still on the run from the harrowing events that took place in Wolven (Scholastic, 2010), Nat, 12, and Woody decide to lay low under the protection of The Twilight Circus. Run by Nat's grandfather, it provides the perfect cover while its "uniquely talented" members make the boys feel at home. Their ultimate destination is the remote region of Salinas, France. It is here they hope to discover information about Nat's missing Dad and reunite with any remaining members of Woody's wolven clan. What greets them in Salinas is more than they bargained for. An ancient evil has been reawakened and is wreaking havoc on the town. It seems that Lucius Cane may not be dead after all. On top of that, Nat has been experiencing werewolf-type symptoms directly related to the recent blood transfusion he received from Woody. The Twilight Circus continues the suspense and action that began in Wolven but weaves a plot that is more intense, intriguing, and satisfying, and the characters have more depth to them.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

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