Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NYĪNDERS, Lou. Recommended for all middle grade collections.

VERDICT Short chapters filled with action, appealing characters, and cliff-hanger endings make this fantasy the kind of book readers will find hard to put down. Despite the gloomy setting, this book vibrates with hope. The bat flip-book feature is a fun surprise. Occasional black-and-white illustrations appear throughout. The book’s hand-drawn map is a helpful resource. Working together but never losing sight of their individual objectives, Thorn and Lily uncover surprising truths about their families. Thorn’s skill with animals, evidenced by his relationship with an elderly, gigantic, voraciously hungry bat named Hades, proves invaluable. A sudden death quickly throws Thorn, Lily, and their friend, K’Leef, into a maelstrom of mistaken identities, murder, magic, necromancy, and narrow escapes. Betrothed sight unseen to the son of a rival ruler in the name of peace, Lily is also a reluctant bride-to-be. The rest of Lily’s family, save for one drunken uncle, have been brutally murdered, and she is a reluctant ruler. Arriving at Castle Gloom in Gehenna, Thorn meets 13-year-old Lady Lily Shadow, the last surviving member of the ruling family of House Shadow, one of six ancient families of sorcerers. Captured while out looking for his missing father, Thorn is taken by new owner Tyburn to the kingdom where he serves as executioner.

For Thorn, however, it’s the beginning of a thrilling adventure. Gr 4-6 –Normally, getting purchased by an executioner wouldn’t be a good thing. Martin's books? Whether they're looking for a dark fantasy to dive into or they aren't quite ready for the tales of Westeros (like 15-year-old GoT star Bella Ramsey, whose parents won't let her watch), here are some Middle Grade and YA readalikes perfect for fans and newcomers, replete with medieval worlds, political intrique, and even a dragon or two.įor more recommendations, check out our roundups of dragon books and woke sci-fi and fantasy. We're asking different questions: What should teen viewers read when it's over? And what about kids familiar with the phenomenon but too young for the content in the HBO show and George R. Will Danaerys ultimately assume the Iron Throne? Will Jon Snow's true parentage become public? And whatever happens, will it be any good? This week, Game of Thrones fans the world over are wondering what will happen on the show's Sunday finale.

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