The Silver Blade

November 1, 2009
Gr 7 Up-This sequel to "The Red Necklace" (Dial, 2008) is a rousing historical romance brimming with adventure and with a ghost story at its heart. Set during the period of the Jacobin Terror after the French Revolution, it is the story of a young Romany man with the heart of a heroic trickster. Yann Margoza is able to control threads of light, which gives him the power to immobilize people, a useful quality for someone engaged in the dangerous business of rescuing people bound for the guillotine and transporting them to England. Yann's great love, Sido, is safely there, but differences in class and status make it difficult for them to envision a future together. Count Kalliovski, dead but walking the streets after a pact with the forces of evil, wants to kill Yann and have Sido for himself. Skillfully plotted and with an unflagging pace, the novel shows Yann and Sido facing many dangers, from Kalliovski and his deadly hound, Balthazar, to the corrupt and brutal officials of the French government. Sufficient backstory is provided for those who have not read the previous title. The historical detail is deftly integrated into the action, and the fears and anxieties of ordinary people are vividly brought to life. The creepiness of Kalliovski and the other macabre ghosts in the catacombs of Paris will keep readers riveted. Gardner combines some gorgeous writing and evocative descriptions with appealing characters to create a sweeping adventure."Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2009
Grades 8-12 This sequel to the well-received The Red Necklace (2008) picks up where the last one left off. The madness of the reign of terror continues with the guillotine working overtime, but now there is a counterpart, the Silver Blade, or Yann Margoza, the Gypsy hero from the previous book, who saves those whom others would kill. His love, the aristocratic Sido, is safe with family in England for the moment, but the devils own, Count Kalliovski, roams again, and his evil eyes are focused on Yann and Sido. Gardner once again writes with stirring energy about those horrific times, and some of the best parts of the book are the daring escapes. The integration of history and magic still works as well, but other elements dont. With numerous plotlines and confusing minor characters, the story becomes difficult to follow, and the pacing is often off. Two of the books biggest eventsYanns discovery of his parentage and the resolution of the lovers relationshipdont get the buildup they deserve in the sprawling story. Readers of the first book will want to read this, but it doesnt have the precision of the first.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)