February 1, 2016
Alice Creighton is out for revenge in this third book in Wexler's Forbidden Library series. When she suspects that her uncle and master, Geryon, is responsible for her father's death, Alice, an apprentice Reader, boldly seeks out a spell in the Palace of Glass that could trap Geryon and help her get some answers. Ending, the cat-shaped labyrinthine, and Isaac, a fellow Reader, return to the plot, joined by some new characters, including Erdrodr, an ice giant girl, and her mother, Helga the Ice Flower. Alice tests her mettle by going up against such strange forces as the bluechill and the Ouroborean in her quest to find The Infinite Prison, a magic book that acts as a portal to another world. Eventually young Alice learns that revenge may backfire, hurting herself as well as others. Despite the frantic pace and elaborate worldbuilding, readers will appreciate following an astute heroine whose ultimate ambition, by the end of this volume, is to be a different kind of Reader--a partner, instead of a master--and to remake the entire cruel and corrupt world around her. A busy continuing saga filled with fantastical drama and feisty finagling. (Fantasy. 10-14)
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May 1, 2016
Gr 5-8-After the events of The Mad Apprentice, Alice is determined to find her uncle, who is responsible for the murder of her father. As she seeks further proof of her uncle's crimes, she encounters many creatures that may or may not have her best interests in mind. Fans of the two previous books in the series will be delighted with this new entry, which is full of twists and turns. Wexler does an admirable job of building such a large world without contradictions or confusion. Those who are meeting these characters for the first time may find the first few chapters a bit confusing, since they go straight into the action (despite a small recap of what has happened before in the "Prologue"). It isn't always clear-cut whether many of the characters are "good" or "evil." Luckily, that makes them and this series irresistible for young readers.
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2016
Having learned that her master Geryon, one of the Old Readers, was responsible for her father's death (The Mad Apprentice, rev. 3/15), Alice, an apprentice Reader able to enter books physically and access the powers within, vows revenge. On advice from Ending, the untrustworthy catlike creature who manages Geryon's Library, Alice waits until Geryon is away, then sneaks out to search for the Palace of Glass and its treasure, a book called The Infinite Prison that she hopes will trap her immensely powerful master. The journey is difficult, and only Alice's new friendships with a fire sprite, an ice giantess, and the helpful owner of a mysterious vast eye allow her to succeed at all. But even if Ending's plan works and Alice is able to confine Geryon to the book, will she be able to handle the chaos that's unleashed in his absence? Although this installment begins with a simple quest, Alice's understanding of the role of Readers is complicated by her new discoveries, so that when the plan breaks apart about two-thirds of the way through, the consequences are stark. As Wexler continues to develop Alice's path, her powers, and her moral compass, the world of the Forbidden Library continues to deepen, adding new magical creatures, new relationships, and new adversaries to an already solid fantasy franchise founded on an appealing heroine, a deft plot, and gripping adventure sequences. anita l. burkam
(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)