The Left-Handed Fate

Starred review from June 1, 2016
An ancient inscription and a handful of inscrutable artifacts plunge three young people into both the War of 1812 and a much larger, older conflict.Opening in Baltimore then moving on to the not-entirely-earthly town of Nagspeake (setting, in another era, of Milford's Greenglass House, 2014), the tale centers on staid, methodical "natural philosopher" Max Ault; 12-year-old American naval officer Oliver Dexter; and fiery Lucy Bluecrowne, daughter of a renowned British privateer, captain of the titular ship. It pits them against both relentless French pursuers and mysterious men in black with eldritch abilities. The prize is a three-part device made thousands of years ago and said to be able to stop war...a superweapon, or so everyone (nearly everyone) presumes. Along with being replete with rousing chases, races, and violent explosions, the tale is uncommonly rich in memorable characters, from the central three, who all display stout hearts and hidden depths, to Lucy's 9-year-old half brother, part-Chinese Liao: pacifist, expert lockpick, and fireworks genius extraordinaire. The labyrinthine Nagspeake itself is magical and vivid enough to serve as more than just a setting (and deservedly sports a metafictional website). Wheeler's neatly turned monochromes capture the tale's warmth and wonder, though (at least as she depicts it) the cast appears to be white, excepting Liao. Rich and strange of place and premise; suspenseful and thought-provoking. (Fantasy. 11-13)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Navigating the dangers, depths, and shifting alliances of the high seas is always a tricky affair. Because Lucy Bluecrowne, Maxwell Ault, and Oliver Dexter (pirate's daughter, aspiring natural philosopher, and midshipman-turned-acting prize captain, respectively) are barely teenagers, what might have been merely tricky turns into an undertaking of epic proportions. With settings ranging from the tumultuous Baltimore harbor to the magical fictional port of Nagspeake, this sequel to Milford's Bluecrowne follows the quest for a mysterious ancient engine, a weapon that could perhaps put an end to war. Beautifully written, with careful attention to historical details, the story balances steampunk elements, mythology, and action with plenty of passion, jam, and jokes. The surprising conclusion will astonish and satisfy, despite more than one deus ex machina. Wheeler's textured illustrations add movement and lucidity, making the denser and more difficult to visualize elements of the plot accessible. VERDICT An unusually rigorous romp for lovers of steampunk, mystery, and swashbuckling adventure.-Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 Though by all rights Lucy's late father's ship, the Left-Handed Fate, should be hers, circumstances have landed her, her crew (including her half brother, Liao), and the schooner in the hands of impossibly young U.S. Navy Lieutenant Oliver Dexter. But Oliver doesn't know that Lucy, Liao, and their friend Max are hunting for pieces of a powerful machine, and once Oliver catches on, he gets in on the search. In painterly prose, Milford follows the foursome as they face the looming War of 1812, a ship that appears out of thin air, and others looking for the same machine components, all while trying to piece together clues left by Max's late father. Though the opening chapters sometimes drag, once the characters get to Nagspeake (the location of Greenglass House, 2014), the story teems with lively characters and a captivating sense of place, all driven along by the engrossing puzzle of the mysterious contraption. Although some story elements don't come together, there are plenty of brilliant, sparkling moments. A colorful, swashbuckling caper full of heart.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)