A Bitter Magic

October 12, 2015
After Cisley's mother vanishes during a magic act, the 12-year-old returns home to her family's glass castle by the sea. As her Uncle Asa attempts to harness his sister's powers, Cisley tries to solve the mystery of her mother's whereabouts, her father's identity, and her own healing abilities. Townley (The Door in the Forest) mixes the whimsical and the tragic, but the story never quite reconciles the two elements. Cisley struggles to belong, seeking solace with a pet lobster she outfits with a gold collar and takes for seaside walks, while Uncle Asa is obsessed with creating ever-shifting mirrored corridors, a labyrinth maze, and cruel experiments to imbue himself with his Cisley's mother's otherworldly power. Cisley's quirkiness provides some needed levity to an otherwise dark tale, but muddled aspects of the storytellingâincluding a misplaced last-minute twist and a bloody finale that also tries to tie up the narrative's loose ends with a silver-lining happy endingâkeep it from finding a successful balance of reality and illusion. Ages 9â12.

September 15, 2015
After Cisley's mother disappears into the shards of a black mirror during her illusion act, the 12-year-old must discover her own powers to learn whether her mother is alive and how to find her. Cisley lives with cold and mercenary Uncle Asa in the Crystal Castle, a maze of ever changing glass and mirrors that trap and confuse Cisley. Friendless, fatherless, and largely having been ignored by her beautiful and talented mother, lonely Cisley has only her pet lobster, Elwyn, as a companion until she meets Cole, a boy from the village. As she becomes acquainted with Cole, she also becomes aware of her uncle's unjust treatment of the Roma who also live nearby. Cisley's mother has left a clue to her return: the scent of a pure black rose. As Uncle Asa, lacking true magic and fiercely envious of his sister's magical abilities, frantically works in his lab to create this essence, Cisley fears for her life. The twists and turns of the plot and some dangling ends slow the pace, which speeds up considerably in the gruesome and melodramatic climax as the castle shatters, leaving shard-impaled dead bodies strewn about. Equally abrupt is the happily-ever-after ending that quickly follows this darkness, but this comes as a welcome release after the moodiness of the book. Plenty of magic, a touch of romance, an appealing heroine, and a talking lobster lighten Townley's tale of deadly sibling jealousy. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-Cisley watches her mother vanish completely during an illusion act involving a magic mirror, which leaves the 12-year-old alone in a parallel universe with her scheming uncle. Cisley is determined to find her mother and discover what kinds of magic are pure illusion and what kinds are real. Along the way, Cisley uncovers powers of her own. Unfortunately, she's stuck in Uncle Asa's Crystal Castle, a bizarre mansion (and tourist destination) filled with shifting mazes. Her loneliness and isolation aren't helped by her uncle's elitist attitude toward the servants and residents of the local community. Cisley's only friends are Elwyn, her pet lobster, and her tutor, Miss Porlock. By gradually becoming friends with Cole, a village boy, and getting to know the Roma who live in a local encampment, Cisley finds the strength needed to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. The world Townley creates is mostly realistic, making the carefully crafted magical elements all the more frightening. The plot will be predictable for many readers, and the characters veer close to cliche, but Townley stays just this side of the line by offering an absorbing mystery and unusual fantastical elements. There are a few humorous aspects, such as when Cisley takes her pet lobster for a walk-which requires bringing a pail filled with water and stopping for repeated dunkings. The ending, both gripping and satisfying, features some darkly violent situations that may leave sensitive readers wide-eyed. VERDICT A magical adventure with a few intriguing clues, a fascinating setting, and some chills that will please most middle graders looking for spooky fantasy.-Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO

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