Snared: Escape to the Above

Starred review from May 7, 2018
In this engaging middle grade fantasy series opener, 14-year-old Wily is a pro at devising nonlethal traps to incapacitate the unwary. He has never known any home other than Carrion Tomb and no parent other than the devious sorcerer Stalag. But when a valiant trio of dungeon-delvers successfully evades his traps, they claim Wily as their prize. Intent on using his skills to further their treasure hunting plans, they instead find themselves battling the bizarre mechanical servants of the dreaded Infernal King, as well as the vengeful Stalag. To survive, they must all become true heroes. Epstein (coauthor of the Familiars series) delivers a clever deconstruction of popular fantasy gaming elements, while still offering a heartfelt tale filled with whimsy, wonder, and magic. As Wily struggles with the unfamiliar, unpredictable nature of the outside world—“I was always taught, if something moves and you don’t know what it is... it’s probably trying to kill you,” he says, regarding a fallen pinecone—and accepts his new companions as a makeshift family, his journey, both comic and sincere, becomes truly satisfying. Ages 8–12. Agent: Markus Hoffmann, Regal Hoffmann & Assoc.

May 15, 2018
Intruders in the dungeon! Five unlikely heroes unite for a treasure hunt but find themselves on a quest to save the kingdom instead. Wily Snare has spent his whole life cleaning up slime and maintaining the deadly traps in Carrion Tomb to protect the treasure hoard from foolhardy adventurers. No invaders have ever escaped capture until Odette (a cunning, blue-haired elf), Pryvyd (a one-armed ex-knight with olive skin), and Moshul (a moss golem who communicates through sign language) cheat their way past the tomb's defenses and change Wily's future forever. The ragtag gang of thieves whisk Wily (a white human boy) and his adopted hobgoblet sister off into the Above, a land ruled by the tyrannical Infernal King. With Wily's expertise with traps, the group plans to plunder their way to riches and sail far away from the evil infesting their home. Wily's naively unreliable perspective adds refreshing humor as he discovers the world doesn't function with the predictability of a tomb full of traps. The notion of chosen family plays a significant role in the story and ultimately directs the characters on a new quest. While the group of adventurers includes two disabled characters, Pryvyd's severed arm is enchanted (it fights independently of him), and Moshul is an object of pity. For the first book of a new series, the plot arrives at a curiously neat and abrupt resolution.A lighthearted fantasy with a strong start and a hasty conclusion. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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June 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-Wily Snare has lived in Carrion Tomb as Trapsmith for as long as he can remember. He has never been outside to the above, believing the sun would burn his skin and melt him to nothing. He spends his days cleaning and fixing the traps and preventing treasure-seekers and burglemeisters from reaching the treasure until the day a motley group of plunderers manage to sneak past his clever designs. They reach the treasure and take Wily with them to the above and into the world. This group of treasure seekers is comprised of Pryvyd, a knight whose arm, Righteous, has a mind of its own; Odette, an acrobatic and acerbic elf; and Moshul, a moss golem. They need the help of Wily and his hobgoblet "sister," Roveeka, to plunder various treasures and escape the land of the Infernal King who traps his people in enormous prisonauts. Along the way, Wily learns about family, friendship, and where he belongs. Epstein has created a world that is funny, compassionate, and entertaining. The story line can be formulaic, but this will not hinder the experience for the intended audience. Readers will be immersed into this dark yet humorous world filled with unique characters. VERDICT This action-packed fantasy adventure is a solid general purchase for middle grade collections.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2018
Grades 3-6 An acrobatic elf, a warrior with a magic arm, and a moss giant walk into a dungeon. They walk out with its buried treasure, a hobgoblet, and Wily Snare, who has lived his entire life underground. Together, they embark on a journey requiring Wily's skills as a trapsmith (think security expert) to steal treasure from other dungeons, with the goal of leaving the kingdom and escaping the evil Infernal King. But all the people Wily meets in the Above are not who they seem, and he must decide how he really wants to use his trapsmith talents. Epstein's series starter is a fun and creative story with surprisingly deep plot twists. Readers get to experience the world for the first time with Wily, and they'll enjoy discovering the land through his eyes. The villain is reminiscent of Valentine from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, though for a decidedly younger audience; and the ending wraps up the story nicely, so it will be interesting to see where these characters are headed next.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)