Children’s / Teenage fiction: Science fiction

Book SynopsisA stunning debut about a magician’s apprentice and a one-winged princess who must vanquish the mechanical monsters that stalk the streets and threaten the faerie kingdom. Aspiring inventor and magician’s apprentice Felix Carmer III would rather be tinkering with his latest experiments than sawing girls in half on stage, but with Antoine the Amazifier’s show a tomato’s throw away from going under, Carmer is determined to win the cash prize in the biggest magic competition in Skemantis. When fate throws Carmer across the path of fiery, flightless faerie princess Grit (do not call her Grettifrida), they strike a deal. If Carmer will help Grit investigate a string of faerie disappearances, she’ll use her very real magic to give his mechanical illusions a much-needed boost against the competition. But Carmer and Grit soon discover they’re not the only duo trying to pair magic with machine – and the combination can be deadly. In this story perfect for readers of the Lockwood & Co and Wildwood series, Sarah Jean Horwitz takes readers on a thrilling journey through a magical wooded fairyland and steampunk streets where terrifying automata cats lurk in the shadows and a mad scientist’s newest mechanical invention might be more menace than miracle.Trade ReviewA Spring 2017 Kids’ Indie Next Pick “Enchanting.”—GirlsLife.com “From the outstanding cover to the ending ripe for a sequel, Horwitz has much to be proud of with this title, and younger teens in particular will rip through its pages.”—Locus “Well-developed characters and a steampunk setting set the stage for this series starter, which is driven by mystery, action, and fairy dust. Incorporating science and danger, this magic-infused adventure carries broad appeal.”—Booklist “Magical stagecraft, steampunk mechanisms, and glittering faerie dust intermesh in a debut middle-grade fantasy. This adventure overflows with imaginative conceits. Carmer makes for a charming hero—clever, compassionate, and exceedingly humble . . . the insidious creepy horror and galloping pace are effective, right up to the unexpectedly gruesome fate of the nefarious evildoers . . . undeniable potential.” —Kirkus Reviews “The main characters have distinct personalities and the plot is original . . . the way technology and magic must both be used to solve the problem will result in thoughtful reader reflection.”—School Library Journal

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Book SynopsisDematr is a world ruled by the diametrically opposed Mage and Mechanic Guilds. For centuries, the two Great Guilds have been bitter rivals. But now a Storm approaches, one that could sweep away everything that humans have built. Only one person has any chance of uniting enough of the world behind to stop the Storm.Mari is a brilliant young Mechanic, just out of the Guild Halls, where she has spent most of her life learning how to run the steam locomotives and other devices of her Guild. Alain is the youngest Mage ever to learn how to change the world he sees with the power of his mind. Each has been taught that the works of the other's Guild are frauds.But when their caravan is destroyed, they must join forces. Their union could save the world from the approaching Storm, but it could also upend the Great Guilds who will stop at nothing to preserve their power. Mari and Alain will have to choose between protecting their lives and their Guilds, or risking everything to protect Dematr from the coming Storm.

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Book Synopsis

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