An exciting, romantic novel set against the feverish backdrop of the French Revolution.
Clever and head-turningly attractive, fourteen-year-old Yann is an orphan who has been raised in Paris by Têtu, a dwarf with secrets he has yet to reveal to the gypsy boy. It’s the winter of 1789, and the duo have been working for a vain magician named Topolain. On the night when Topolain’s vanity brings his own death, Yann’s life truly begins. That’s the night he meets shy Sido, an heiress with an ice-cold father, a young girl who has only known loneliness until now. Though they have the shortest of conversations, an attachment is born that will influence both their paths.
And what paths those will be! Revolution is afoot in France, and Sido is being used as a pawn. Only Yann will dare to rescue her, and he’ll be up against a fearful villain who goes by the name Count Kalliovski, but who has often been called the devil. It’ll take all of Yann’s newly discovered talent to unravel the mysteries of his past and Sido’s and to fight the devilish count.
As in the award-winning I, CORIANDER; Sally Gardner has masterfully combined the historical and the fantastical in this sumptuous, riveting adventure.
The French Revolution provides the backdrop for this story of gypsies, demented aristocrats, intrigue, and murder. Yann, orphaned at a young age, has been raised by a kindly dwarf and works with a traveling troupe of magicians. The murder of the group's leader by the sinister Count Kalliovski provides the catalyst for Yann's further adventures. Though improbable coincidences and unlikely circumstances abound, Carrington MacDuffie's performance draws in the listener. At first, MacDuffie is all over the map with various accents and characterizations, but she soon settles into a comfortably paced, enjoyable performance. Skillfully, she establishes several distinct characters and never leaves the listener guessing as to who is speaking. A little history, a lot of adventure--this boisterous story would be a good choice for a family road trip. M.H.N. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
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