Twelve Nights

October 1, 2020
When Kay's father goes missing on Christmas Eve, she discovers a dangerous and magical world of fables. After a strange visit to their father's workplace, Kay and her younger sister, Ell, discover that all traces of him have vanished, as if he had never existed in the first place. The sisters are visited by Will O. de Wisp and Flip Gibbet, two wraiths of the Honorable Society of Wraiths and Phantasms, who are seeking to remove the last piece of evidence of their father's existence. Struck by the revelation that Kay is what they call an author--the only ones, aside from witnesses, with the ability to see wraiths--Kay and Ell leave on a journey to rescue their father. The story overtly functions as a treatise on the nature of stories and their importance as part of various cultures. One figure, the Bride of Bithynia, bears a strong resemblance to the leannan s�dhe of Irish folklore, and Orpheus from Greek mythology is directly referenced. Zurcher skillfully draws readers into his fantastical world with a writing style reminiscent of Philip Pullman. While the narrative is engaging, the ending is rather disappointing, serving more as a hook for a potential sequel than as a satisfying conclusion in itself. Main characters seem to be White; there are vague hints that 8-year-old Ell may be neurodivergent, however this is not given much focus. One for the bookshelf of any fantasy enthusiast. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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Starred review from November 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* It's been a bewildering few days for Kay, who crash-landed in a hot-air balloon on an alternate world, where her father and little sister are being held prisoner. Guided by Will and Flip, a pair of locals known as wraiths, she is determined to rescue her family from the land's tyrannical ruler, Ghast. For centuries, this world was a place where stories were revered, making their creation and telling cherished vocations, but now Ghast has established a cruel, self-serving regime in its place. As Kay dodges dangers, she learns more of this strange world and how her family is connected to it. To further complicate matters, Kay has only 12 days to carry out her mission or her father and sister will be lost forever. Debut author Zurcher writes with surety and panache as he crafts a complex society that essentially overlays our own world. Commendably, he steers clear of sentimentality when describing his story-centric world, casting it as a seat of knowledge and referencing Greek mythology and ancient Egypt. Certain characters' philosophizing might befuddle readers who aren't yet in middle school, but those able to keep up with the fast-moving yet dense plot are in for a superb adventure--or at least half of one. Ending with six days left in Kay's rescue mission, this book guarantees a sequel.

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