Rose and the Lost Princess

March 15, 2014
Rose, an orphan who works as a housemaid while studying magic, helps save a princess from an evil magician. Rose's secret, which is that she has magical powers, is out. Now that she's a magician's apprentice as well as a housemaid, her status among the other servants is in jeopardy, as they view magic and magical people with suspicion even though they are employed by Mr. Aloysius Fountain, a powerful magician in the royal court. Fact is, it's a bad time for magicians in the city of London. Princess Jane, the darling of king and country, briefly disappeared, and magicians are suspected in the so-called attempted kidnapping, causing anti-magician prejudice to skyrocket. Nonetheless, Rose is secretly called in to help the king along with fellow apprentice Freddie and Gus, Mr. Fountain's smart-talking cat, a potent magician in his own right. The adventure that follows is amusing but fuzzy, as the nature of the characters' magical powers is not clear, so the final battle has an arbitrary feel. Where Webb shines is in her depiction of the gradations of status and power both up- and downstairs and how these positions shape perception, action and character. Enjoyable magical adventure enlivened by an engaging group of secondary characters from all backgrounds and realms. (Fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-Set in 19th century England, in a world full of magicians, Rose is an orphan working as a servant/magician's apprentice to Mr. Aloysius Fountain, the king's magician and close advisor. When the king's daughter, Jade, almost gets kidnapped, magic is suspected and Mr. Fountain and his household, along with the town's magicians, are all suspects. At the same time, a horrible winter sets in and Jade disappears a second time, this time without a trace. Enlisted to help her master solve the case, Rose discovers that her life and the lives of many others are in great danger if Jade isn't found. Can Rose and Mr. Fountain solve the case in time? The characters in this book are likable and entertaining while the plot is well-developed. The smooth transitions from chapter to chapter, the suspense, and tension of the story easily draw the reader into Rose's unique world and keep them wanting to know what will happen next. Fans of princesses, magic, fantasy, and mystery will not be disappointed with this sequel.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.