Curse of the Specter Queen

April 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Sam Knox values her quiet work as an antiquarian bookseller, but a mysterious diary delivered to the bookshop results in strange men burning down the store and threatening her life. Sam, her estranged best friend, and her childhood crush are forced into a whirlwind adventure involving cryptology, archaeology, history, and intrigue, all leading to a mysterious and dangerous occult order in Dublin, Ireland. The story is quickly paced and well written; dialogue in particular is witty and believable. The adventure takes time to kick in but is fast and furious once it does. Faults lie in the rushed development of characters, who stay flat and unconvincing for most of the book despite supposed lifelong ties and a gradual romance. It's also hard to nail down the right audience for this book, which attempts to mash together fantasy, history, mystery, and archaeology. No one genre seems to stand out, which leaves the focus muddled. Teens will struggle to relate to the focus on wealthy white college-aged kids in a 1920s setting where no one has much agency or growth; external events just seem to happen, and Sam in particular lacks control over events until the very end. The cryptology and mystery aspect will appeal to older readers who enjoyed Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer or Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society. VERDICT A secondary purchase for public and school libraries with a healthy budget and sophisticated older teen readers who like to read across genres.-Christine Case, Hillcrest H.S., Country Club Hills, IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2021
Set in the Roaring '20s, this is the first entry in a series starring puzzle-solving aspiring archaeologist Samantha Knox. Sam, whose father was killed during the Great War, has remained in her rural Illinois town to work in an antiquarian bookshop owned by the father of her childhood friends, siblings Joana and Bennett Steeling. One day, a package from Ireland with a mysterious book containing a coded letter is delivered. Before Sam can properly examine it, two Irishmen try to steal it, in the process setting fire to the shop. Sam, wisecracking sidekick Joana, and love interest Bennett learn that a centuries-old club is trying to enact an ancient curse to call forth Morrigan, the Celtic goddess of war and death. Traveling by train and steamship, the trio make their way to Dublin, encountering an array of additional characters along the way. With each chapter ending in a cliffhanger, the plot unfolds quickly. Classic elements include hidden clues, narrow escapes, a magical ritual object, and a fearsome mythical creature. Sam is an appealing heroine: smart, well-read, gutsy, and introspective. While solving the mystery (and discerning friend from foe), Sam comes to terms with the lingering effects of her grief, a plot element that provides unexpected emotional depth. However, repetitive bickering among the main characters proves tedious. All characters appear White. A fast pace, compelling supernatural mystery, and intriguing historical setting add up to broad appeal. (Adventure. 13-18)

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