Thursday, October 6, 2011

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

A Tale of Two Castles
by Gail Carson Levine
May 2011
Harper Collins

Mysteries abound, especially in Two Castles.

I kind of feel like whimpering pathetically right now.  It's so hard when an author debuts with something that changes your entire world (Ella Enchanted, anyone?) and then follows it with somewhat interesting, just barely entertaining book after book after book.  Gail Carson Levine, I just want you to know that I will always read every book you publish . . . but I'd be a lot happier if I actually enjoyed them.

Okay, okay so it wasn't all that bad.  In fact, all things considered (such as the fact that this is the only book I've finished in the last month), it was pretty good.  Elodie is traveling to the town of Two Castles to apprentice herself to a mansioner - or theater troupe.  Nothing, however, goes as planned and she soon finds herself apprenticed to a brilliant dragon, "deducing" the mysterious happenings surrounding the local ogre's castle.  One part mystery, one part fantasy and two parts coming of age, Elodie must sift through a parade of characters in order to determine where true friendship lies.  Younger fantasy readers will most likely find this book quite charming.

If you liked A Tale of Two Castles, try:
Tales from the Five Kingdoms by Vivian French
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry